While outdoors, with this quiet park’s world around me, I have time to think. For years, experiences were provided for my students, faculty and staff with me to learn and understand the importance of conflict resolution with mediation and character education. Today, now more than ever, I wonder why our leaders lack the ability to be positive role models or work to build confidence in resolving issues to the benefit of all and not just a few. It seems the general population now has more anxiety, less trust and little to no confidence in their leaders working for them.

In character education programs, my students, faculty and staff with me learned, practiced, and were reminded of the importance of consciously doing the right thing even when it may be the toughest thing to be done or when no one was around to notice. To be a fair and caring person for the school, local and world communities is a responsibility of good citizenship. If we could trust that all of us will receive healthcare, social safety, food and shelter through legislation generated by our leaders there would be greater respect for them. Yet, leaders seem to protect their wallets and lifestyles with no respect of the constituency to which they represent. Decisions are made promoting agendas not of equality for all, but with a bias that alienates or squashes many with no path for growth or success.

My one hope is for leaders to someday understand we are all human, each with a mind, heart and honesty about what is best for ourselves. There often is not one directive to be taken; therein lies the importance of mediation in a conflict or creation of legislative action. Could leaders listen to all sides and work with all to discover a resolution maybe never heard before? Could they be respectful and trust not to have all the answers on how to make this a better world for all of us today, but also for future generations? As each leader displays their character, moral and ethical qualities that define them, and influence the choices they make, we will be watching their every move. It is in the choices they make where each of us decides if that is a leader for this citizenship. Another reason why we all must vote! Please be sure you do!