My Impromptu on Public Service

Salma Rodriguez
1855 W 60th St Apt 212, Hialeah FL, 33012-7585; Phone: (305) 362-8578

My Impromptu on Public Service
In a country regulated by such a large bureaucracy as the United States, one simply cannot ignore or pretend to ignore the fact that one has so many benefits; obviously, the cost involved coming from taxpayers' pockets (no surprise). The Department of Homeland Security provides me with a Social Security, so when I'm old, I can enjoy a safe retirement with many opportunities to visit the beautiful resorts in Miami Beach; but, why should I think about retirement now? I have a whole life ahead of me! What else can the government provide for me now, other than Social Security, free healthcare services through Medicaid (until I'm twenty-one and I start working, at least), and protection under the law from the Police Department, or even the Defense Department (nobody ever thinks about getting attacked by a terrorist, but just in case; who knows what can happen in the near future)?
The most immediate thing to consider has failed to cross my mind over the last twelve and a half years—even now as I compose this essay; this single, most important thing is my education. The Florida Department of Education has provided me with something that I value today above all else: a free education; something that not every child of every nation has the privilege to enjoy. And, come to think of it, I hadn't really considered this till very recent—(just now). Normally, I would be complaining to my teachers about the excessive number of "school policies." And, I'll take the privilege to list a few: school uniform, ID badges, no hats, etc. (The aforementioned policies are only those affecting me personally as a student; imagine the number of policies affecting schoolteachers—it's unfathomable!) Yet, did I ever think about why there are so many policies and regulations? The reality is that the policymakers (superintendents, county commissioners and chiefs of staff) of the school district to which I've been made part of for almost thirteen years of my life may only be trying to maintain a learning environment that is secure, not just for me, but for all—a learning environment that is free of distractions, hassles or other calamities.
Free education: it means more than just graduating summa cum laude from a public high school in Florida, and wearing my cap with its golden tassel to show it; it means more than reflecting on the last four years of my life, appreciating each and every moment, and thanking each and every one of my AP teachers (and the College Board) for their commendable efforts, pushing me to the limit, in order for me to excel, till the very end—the very end of what? It doesn't end here. Free education means acquiring grants from the U.S. Department of Education (the Pell Grant among others), and scholarships, so that I would be able to pursue a career; so that in the near future, if I am to wed and have children, a new generation would fluoresce, and at the same time, have the understanding and appreciation of something worthy of merit and recognition: the efforts of policymakers and bureaucrats, who work laboriously to make free education possible (as for the lawmakers, your task is simply making sure they're doing their job). This is something to be taken into consideration, and once one understands how the bureaucracy works—and the real reason why it works the way it works, it would all turn into something that one would appreciate forever. I appreciate it, and I am satisfied.
Soon it will be time to flip over a new page in my calendar. It's almost the month of May! In another month or so, I will have received my diploma, my graduation pictures taken, a new look, and best of all, new inspirations—a new ambition. In a couple of months or so after that, I will be attending a postsecondary institution (another bureaucracy; nongovernmental in this case), but who really facilitates all the aid for me—both monetary and nonmonetary? Who really helps me get beyond high school? Again, it is the federal government. The Department of Housing and Urban Development can provide, if I choose to apply, college housing for me—and for free!—(thanks to the many federal grants out there). And what can be better than having my own accommodation at a university with the perfect meal plan as a complement? Now the cliché that I've always heard people talk about really starts to make sense: literally, "We live in a free country:" free text books, free tuition, free housing—a free education. What else can I ask for? The benefits are implausible although not too farfetched from the reality, and the reality is that everything is possible with so many benefits. All it takes is a little effort.
A perfect example of the wide scope of services that the government can provide is the new wireless phone service for needy families that my mom recently found. One phone per household is enough; it can be taken anywhere and used for important calls (911 being free of minutes, of course). The Florida Department of Children and Families has provided this and so much more for my family. It also enforces policies, like the payment of child support, which my brother's father had decided to gamble with, until finally having his driver's license revoked. Anyway, the Department of Children and Families has also paid for our food, and aside from Food Stamps, my mom can always receive temporary cash assistance in case of a dire necessity. My mother is unemployed, so her situation is critical, and requires the attention of the government—the government demands it. We can only cope with the situation, and be hopeful. In times of great need, anything is possible when one remains hopeful.
My composition will end with a brief history about myself. My name is written somewhere in the letterhead, in case you, the reader, are interested. I am Hispanic; Cuban to be exact, although most people would not think so because of the color of my eyes and hair, and the fairness of my skin (blond, blue eyes, and white). I came to this country really young, at the age of three, so if asked about my heritage, I can comfortably consider myself to be Cuban American. I am not a very cultural person, but I am a gastronome of good Latin-American food and I enjoy Latin-American music. I am bilingual, with both languages having been strongly developed.

Acknowledgements:

First, I would like to thank the United States Postal Service for delivering this message to you. I would also like to thank you, the Florida legislator, his secretary, or whoever is reading this at the moment, for your attention. I hope you enjoyed reading, as I enjoyed writing, and I will be awaiting my scholarship!