How Vermonters Earn Their Star
How Vermonters Earn Their Star
By Anna Tallmadge
Essex High School, Grade 10
There are exactly fifty white, five-pointed stars on the American flag. Together they represent freedom and unity. Individually though, each star represents one of the fifty states. Vermont is one of them. 9,250 square miles of rolling hills, steep mountains, picturesque plains and eye-catching colors make up the beautiful landscape of Vermont. But a more important number is the 623,908 people that make up the population of Vermont. These people earn their star every day. They are Vermonters.
But what is a Vermonter? Calvin Coolidge once said that “I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys … but most of all, I love her because of her indomitable people.” And it’s true because to be a real Vermonter, one must possess the spirit and the strength that is distinctive of Vermonters. This spirit sets Vermont apart from the rest of the country. Vermont is the second least populous state but I have come to see this as a good thing because it is the reason Vermont has such a strong sense of community. No matter where you go in Vermont, you will probably recognize someone. The sense of community in Vermont is much stronger than anywhere else I have been. This account’s for one of the key components of the “Vermonter spirit” which is a readiness to help one’s neighbors. Vermonters are always ready to help people in need. In my opinion, this is what it means to be a Vermonter.
Vermont is a wonderful place to live but there are things that I would change. As a high school student, I talk to a lot of seniors who are preparing for college. One thing I frequently hear is that they want to go to college outside of Vermont. Stephen Douglas once said “Vermont is a great place to grow up, provided you leave shortly thereafter.”This has been the general attitude for a long time. I would love to see that change and see college-bound teenagers realize the advantages of living in Vermont. I would change this by making colleges for in-state students less expensive than they are now. Another thing that I would like to see change in Vermont is the economic disadvantages. There are not a lot of jobs, the wages are typically low and the cost of living is very high. This is one reason why new families do not settle down in Vermont. It is hard to get started here because of the high costs of housing. But all in all, I think that Vermont’s positives outweigh its negative’s.
Growing up here has affected my life for the better. I think the most important thing I have gained from growing up in Vermont are my values. I have grown up valuing education, community, and family. If I had grown up somewhere else I might have different values. My values are extremely important to me because they will mold my entire life. Another thing Vermont has taught me is how to accept people. Vermont is a small state but it is helping change the views of the country by showing how to accept people of all different backgrounds. I used to wished I was living in a larger state but, if I could go back and grow up somewhere else I would not want to because I now see that Vermont is the best place to grow up.
Vermont is small but it has more of an impact than people realize. Vermont has many accomplishments in its past from providing the country with maple syrup, the IBM computer and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream to being birthplace of two of our former presidents. But Vermont also has many things to look forward to in the future. I have lived in Vermont for the past fifteen years and hope to live here for the next fifteen. Vermont is my home and I will always carry the values and the memories I have acquired here no matter where my adventures may lead me. Vermont represents one of the fifty stars on the flag and, in my opinion, we have earned that star. I consider myself a true Vermonter, not just because I have tapped a maple tree and milked a cow, but because I have grown to appreciate what Vermont has to offer. Vermont is not just a state, being a Vermonter is a way of life. I am proud I have had the chance to experience it.