A responsible citizen is an individual having knowledge about their role in their community, country, world and participation in activities that make their surrounding environment a better place.  Part of being a teen means experiencing different responsibilities because it’s an important factor of how you are shaped into an adult.  For a teen, being a responsible citizen in today's world means acting upon current issues and serving as an active role model to those around you.  
 
Teens shouldn’t have a problem when it comes to being informed.  Social media is very popular with teens and serves as a great source for information.  A recent study from a Connecticut high school proves this theory and has shown that around 94 percent of teens own and use social media or check the news daily to see what's going on around them.  Although social media is great for spreading an issue, there is no meaningful way to act upon it.  Knowing that their community needs them, a responsible teen would do whatever it takes to resolve the lingering problem.  Last year after Hurricane Harvey, many of my friends and I worked together to make an impact in our city by helping neighbors and people we didn’t even know.  Even though social media is heavily criticized for many reasons, we would never have known who needed our help.  
 
As an Eagle Scout, I am expected to use the skills I have been taught to guide and to be a role model to my peers.  Many look at Eagle Scouts as role models because they believe that they have the potential to be a mentor and guide to the next generation.  Neil Armstrong, the most famous astronaut to have ever walked on the moon became an Eagle Scout at age 17.  Neil serves as an influential role model to me and anyone who wants to become part the space industry. Being a role model is not limited to only Eagle Scouts, many sports teams have role models that influence their success on and off the field.  For example, every team has a captain.  This person is chosen because of how they lead, coach and support one another along every step of the way.   
 
To conclude, finishing your homework on time or taking the trash out doesn’t quite qualify you as a responsible teen.  These things are important in your home and family.  But for a teen to be a responsible citizen, we must address problems in our community and step up and lead.  This will help shape us as a responsible teen into a responsible adult.