As high school students, we are expected to become responsible adults after graduation but this process does not come as naturally as we might believe. Responsibility is something that we have to learn as we mature.

Our parents instill it in us at a young age but as we grow older, we must rely on ourselves to make responsible choices. When we do not take life seriously, irresponsible decisions can lead to dangerous consequences.

A current example of this would be how we vote during each election season and what it foreshadows in our country?s future. Responsible voters need to educate themselves and become familiar with our national needs.

We also have a responsibility to know what the candidates stand for and how they will influence our nation. While most high school students were not eligible to vote, by watching this election, we can be better prepared as young adults to vote more wisely in the future.

In between elections, we need to channel our responsibility into the social needs surrounding us, day in and day out.

Teens can play a huge role by participating in community projects like Operation Christmas Child, a service that provides an opportunity to give back to underprivileged kids in third world countries, who would not receive Christmas presents otherwise.

This teaches us how to think of others instead of ourselves and it also reminds us of how fortunate we are to live in the United States. Not only can we give on a global level, we can also have the chance to give food to the shelters and the homeless on a local level during the food drive.

Practicing an outward focus and responsibility can also help us develop other important aspects of our internal character. Initiative, maturity and leadership are bundled with responsibility. We not only benefit the nation and the world, we also better ourselves, through being responsible.

For more opinions, read the Nov. 7 article, Presidential Election 2012: Join the discussion.