Courage, commitment, and citizenship in public life

Benjamin Disraeli once stated that courage is the rarest of all qualities to be found in public life. As I look into my future, and seek out what kind of man I hope to become in the public arena, I hope to be among those rare few who display the courage of their convictions and the willingness to live according to their own deeply felt principles.

I believe that a life of service is critical for the well-rounded person. Whether it be displayed in running for office, serving in a church or community organizations, or simply being a responsible citizen and family member, it is important that we meet our obligations to self and others in the way we approach the world. All people have, I think, a stance relative to the world that is more or less involved with and committed to something. One can meet one's responsibilities in a minimal way by voting and paying taxes and otherwise wanting to be let alone. Or one can seek to be a more involved citizen than that. I hope to work toward developing my own approach to the world in such a way that I further and deepen my own values and education and then apply my experiences with courage and commitment to achieve good in my corner of the world. I cannot say at this moment that I know what I want to do for a career, or what characteristics my involvement with public life and service will have. But I can say that, as I become what I am to become, I want to pursue my education and ultimately to live my life with an authenticity derived from true passion.