Whtat it is Like to Be a Vermonter
What it is Like to Be a Vermonter
By Remo Plunkett
Rice Memorial High School, Grade 9
Although Vermont is a small state, nevertheless I am still very proud to call myself a Vermonter because Vermont has had a great impact on my life. When I visit cities around the country I realize how much I love the landscape and people that accompany our little state. Our state’s tourist numbers prove my point. Many out of state citizens enjoy Vermont very much, from the lake to the mountains. I am proud, and grateful to have these opportunities in my backyard. As a Vermonter I feel a responsibility to preserve these attractions so others who are not as fortunate to live in Vermont can partake in their beauty as well. To me being a Vermonter is a privilege as well as a responsibility.
I call being a Vermonter a responsibility because we have so much going for us here. We need to preserve these resources for others. I am proud to say that Vermont has led the way in environmental protection in our state. These restrictions, however, need to be lenient enough to allow for the building of modest homes for newcomers to Vermont. The Vermont life is a balance. For example, in the summer we boat, fish and swim in Lake Champlain and in the winter we ski on Mount Mansfield and others. If we are to preserve Vermont we must apply this type of balance to our methods for keeping Vermont great.
Vermont has been a great place for me to grow up so far. However, there are some opportunities for education and jobs that can not be pursued in Vermont. These are two of the factors that would stop me from returning to Vermont. The small size of our state does not make it a great place for business to flourish. I hope that these factors do not stop me from returning to the Green Mountain State in the future. A dream of mine for Vermont would to make it more
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accessible to people trying to re-enter the state. This is one of the things that I would change about Vermont.
At this point in my life the most important part of living in Vermont are the recreational activities that happen here. Whenever I travel and talk to family or friends I realize how fortunate I am to be close to a lake as well as multiple ski resorts. Many people who wish to ski in the winter are forced to drive hours to find a ski resort. Every time that I go away I value the opportunities that Vermont offers even more. Sometimes I hear people complaining about Vermont and it not being large enough or too unexciting. The truth is that most of the people that I have talked to would do a lot to live in Vermont.
I believe that growing up in Vermont and observing nature this closely on a day to day basis has positively affected my outlook. The nature in Vermont allows for so much though and opportunities arise from it alone. Vermont’s natural beauty has been the structure for my, as well as other’s writing and art. A state with fewer natural beauties is not nearly as inspiring as a beautiful state, like Vermont.
Living in Vermont is a privilege as well as a responsibility for everyone who lives here. We have an obligation to preserve our state for others to enjoy. We must realize how many opportunities there are here. Things in Vermont also have to change to make it more accessible to incoming citizens. If we can do these things Vermont will continue to be the greatest state in the country.