"We The People" Project 2005 - Essay Contest
Topic: "How do I expect to fulfill my role as a citizen of the U.S. Virgin Islands?"
Prize: $200.00
Essay Winners
Nicole Christian, St. Croix
Central High School
WTP Essay Contest Winner
Devrelle D. Dumas, STT
Charlotte Amalie High School
WTP Essay Contest winner
Nicole Christian's Winning Essay:
As a little girl growing up, I have always been proud to be born in America’s Paradise, The United States Virgin Islands. I regard the Virgin Islands as being the most exotic and delightful Islands in the entire Caribbean. As the years go by, I realize more and more how special and unique we are. Our history alone makes us one of a kind. No other country or territory has had seven countries to preside over them. Each Virgin Islander must take pride in our islands. A U.S. Virgin Islander is someone who was born in any of the four U.S. Virgin Islands. Although we may have our problems, there is no where in the world that does not have its ups and downs. I think that we all must come together as one. As Mario Moorehead always says, “one, one we can full the basket, as long as we do it together.” We need consider not ourselves Crucians, St. Thomians, or St. Johnians but, Virgin Islanders. We also must stand for that which we believe. Our ancestors have worked hard to obtain the freedom we have today and some have even died striving for a better life. We must not let anyone control or take away the freedom that we have. Although I am only an eleventh grader, I will continue to fulfill my role as a citizen of the U.S. Virgin Islands, as I have strived to do in the past.
They are several things that I accomplished in the past to fulfill my role as a citizen. While attending the Alfredo Andrews Elementary School, I became one of the first girls in the entire Virgin Islands to join Best Friends. Best Friends taught me respect and how to carry myself as a young lady. With the information I gained, I used it to educate others, which helped to prevent several unwanted pregnancies. While in Best Friends I also helped to beautify John H. Woodson. In my church, I participated in beach clean- ups and visited the sick. While a part of D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) I learned the effects of alcohol and drugs on the body. With this knowledge I was able to stop others from even considering doing drugs. Last summer, while I participated in the Summer Science Enrichment Academy (SSEA), I also took part in a beach clean up. In SSEA I also completed Introduction to Disaster Service s, Sponsored by the Red Cross and became certified. Sometime in the future I hope to get certified to give Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, (C.P.R.) and First Aid training. With these certifications I hope to help my fellow citizens in need. I am also quite active in numerous service organizations at school. As a member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), I went to the Queen Louise Home for the Children and gave them Christmas presents. This made me feel good to see how happy the children were to see us. We also visited The Bethlehem Home and donated several canned goods. While in school, I also encourage my schoolmates not to liter and destroy school property. When I take part in these activities it is not to gain recognition, but to help the less fortunate for whom no help is giving.
Recently, I graduated as a member of the newest chapter of the Guardian Angles, St. Croix Chapter. When I first heard of the Guardian Angles, I knew that this was something of which I wanted to become a part. At first I was nervous that I was putting my life on line, but I realized that it was something positive and I would be helping others. I also said to myself, “you only have one life to live and it matters not how long you live it, but what you did while you lived it.” My main reason for becoming a Guardian Angle was to help stop the violence and make the streets of St. Croix a safer place not only for our visitors, but the locals as well. With safer streets, we are likely to get back Cruise Lines, and more airlines, which means more tourists and a booming economy. I have helped to patrol events such as the Jump Up, the Fair, the Christmas Village, the St. Patrick’s Parade, Sunset Jazz, etc. I have even patrolled the streets of Frederiksted and Christiansted when no major event was taking place. Although there have been a few negative remarks from ignorant people, being a Guardian Angle has left a tremendous influence on my life and the lives of others. It is nice to be considered a role model for the real world. I feel that with more support from the community, we could completely erase the crime and violence.
My role as a citizen of the U.S. Virgin Islands does not stop here. If God spares my life, upon graduating from high school I plan to pursue a career in Forensic Science. I would like to obtain my Masters Degree in this field, preferably as a Forensic Toxicologist. I would also like to study Forensic Physiology. I feel that we need to try to understand the criminal mind. After I obtain these degrees I would work in this field in the states for approximately ten years. When I feel that I have gained enough experience I plan to return home. I think that each one of us needs to make plans to return home. If we do not come back home there will be no one to educate, cure, feed, or nurture the next generation in any way. My main reason for wanting to become a Forensic Scientist is because I feel that this will be an excellent way to give back to my community while doing something that I really enjoy. Personally I believe that there are too many unsolved crimes in the Virgin Islands. The field of Forensic Science is a broad and expanding field. With all this technology, there is no need for guilty suspects to go free. When I return home, if a Forensics Laboratory is not yet in existence, then I would like to build the first ever the Virgin Islands. Here I hope to train young internees to follow in my footsteps. I would also like to open a sanatorium on St. Croix. I think that we need to take all of the mental people off the streets and place them in an institution where they could get a place to live, food to eat, and treatment for their illness.
Although I am only an eleventh grader, I will continue to fulfill my role as a citizen of the U.S. Virgin Islands, as I have strived to do in the past.
I gave back to my community by cleaning beaches, schools, and even my church. As a Guardian Angle I have helped to make the lives of others a safer, happier, and a more enjoyable one. In the future with proper founding I hope to help develop my island in as many ways as possible. Being a Virgin Islander is not only about being born in St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, or even Water Island. It is about having pride in where you come from and knowing what you’re about. Saying that you are a Virgin Islander means nothing if you’re not playing an active role in society. As a citizen of the U.S. Virgin Islands we must and should fulfill our roles, making sure that we remain the Paradise we are and will always be.
Devrelle D. Dumar's Winning Essay
Fulfilling My Role As A U. S. Virgin Islands Citizen
Every member of our society plays some part, however small, in this community. However, all do not hold the designation of being a bona fide citizen. The word citizen refers to “ a native or naturalized person who pledges allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it.” In this capacity, some play the role of public servant, some that of an educator, and still there are some to whom the role of law enforcer belong. On the other hand, there are those who hold the not-so-easily recognizable roles of criminal and offender of the law. In all of these instances, the privilege of governmental protection is freely given. For this reason, I believe a person’s citizenship is his or her own way of showing gratefulness (or ungratefulness in any case) for the rights and privileges granted to them. This conclusion leads me to a personal question: ‘How do I except to fulfill my role, do my part, as a citizen, and more specifically, a U.S. Virgin Islands citizen?’ This question is synonymous to asking, ‘How grateful am I for having lived in these islands?’ In my opinion, abiding by the laws of the land, consciously working to give back to my community, and encouraging others to do the same would best fulfill my role as a United States Virgin Islands citizen.
Foremost, the quality of my citizenship hinges on my respect for the law. Unless my basic rights and freedoms are infringed upon, abiding by the law should be a way of life. My keeping of the law goes hand in hand with respect for, even if not agreement with, authority. I would find it hard to uphold a law whose enforcers command no respect. Living in accordance to the laws of the land, is the first simple but essential aspect of my role as a citizen.
Although important, simply obeying laws could never be enough to show that I am grateful to live in the Virgin Islands. After all, the privileges endowed to me by my community and nation are many, and to whom much is given…. Therefore, involving myself in my community and giving back with a spirit of service is not only my choice, but also my duty. A conscious effort on my part should be made to make positive contributions. The best time to start is now, even in my own small way. For this reason, I thoroughly enjoy my volunteer work as a tutor for younger children. This type of work gives me the knowledge that I leave an impact, however minuscule, on another’s life. To many, community involvement means having a recognizable face and name, but true service seeks no recognition. A sense of service and duty towards the Virgin Islands community is needed for me to effectively fulfill the role of a citizen.
Lastly, my gift of service would be incomplete unless I pass the torch on to others. My life should be an example of service to those who come after me. I cannot let the sense of service and responsibility to this community stop with me. Encouraging my peers and those younger than myself to become involved almost ensures that this will never happen. In addition to this, I want to instill the same values in the children that I plan to raise. There is always room for improvement. Therefore, efforts to better any community should never cease. Even if I show one person that a call to service is truly the highest calling, my work would be worthwhile. After all, as cliché as it may sound, changes are made one person at a time.
Overall, every aspect of my citizenship must coincide with one another if I expect to fulfill my role as a United States Virgin Islands citizen. Think about it! If I had no regard for the law, I could easily sell drugs to make donations for the homeless and call it contributing to my community! As it is, that is a contradiction to my beliefs. Most important is the example of service I show to others ensuring that the work of the community never halts. Although just beginning, I think I realize what many others before me have known: the work of a good United States Virgin Islands citizen never stops.