Ever since I was a child, I was always taught in school that respect is something you earn, not something that is automatically given. I’ve heard it said so much throughout the years that it’s been etched into my brain. It is something I live by. From the hundreds of times I’ve heard it said, I expected that everyone lived by it, including all the students and teachers I heard it from. However, my fantasy was shattered by reality.
Throughout my school career, I’ve met hundreds of people. From ambitious athletes to shy geeks, I’ve met a variety of personalities. Throughout these encounters, I’ve met humans who would not hurt a fly, and I’ve met those who do not show respect for anyone else. If someone has never done anything wrong to you, there is no logical reason for you to constantly greet them with cruelty and mockery. The fact that people have the immaturity to mock someone for being confident and being who they are is shocking. As long as you are who you are and you are not purposely creating harm towards others, there is no reason for you to be be shown rudeness. I have also met people who feel like they deserve full respect even though they do not show respect towards others. I have never seen a greater number of these people than in teachers.
Teachers are here to help and educate students in a safe environment, and that safe environment cannot be created when teachers disrespect students. There have been teachers that I have never even seen before, and they have treated me with disrespect. Teachers should be respected because they are here by choice. They could’ve done any other job, but they loved to teach and chose to pursue it. That does not mean that teachers can do whatever they want. Just because teachers are adults does not mean that they are royalty. So many teachers have always told me to follow the Golden Rule; I remember I heard it right on my first day of Kindergarten. Some teachers need to live up to what they say and follow the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule states: “treat others the way you would like to be treated.” I have met students and teachers that want respect, yet they don’t have the decency to respect anyone else.
Right now, the nation is so divided. From constant terror attacks around the world to political correctness and separation, we need respect. Respect does not mean to be fake with everyone. Respect means to take one another’s opinions and just generally who they are into account and try to create a safer environment and make solutions without violence for everyone based on those accounts. Like the famous poet Maya Angelou said, “if we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.”