What do we owe?
By Sophia Pilgrim
What does it truly mean to belong to something bigger than yourself?
When we join an organization—a school club, a sports team, or a workplace—we commit to a shared purpose.
With this involvement comes responsibility: to the group, ourselves, and the community around us.
How these responsibilities manifest can vary widely, but they often leave a lasting impact.
What Do We Owe to Clubs and Sports at Kayhi While We’re Part of Them?
Participation in clubs and sports at Kayhi means more than showing up; it requires dedication, teamwork, and accountability.
Junior Annabell Ballif, a member of Kayhi’s swim team, has responsibilities as an athlete that extend far beyond individual performance.
“Being part of the swim team means pushing myself to work hard—not just for me, but for my teammates,” Ballif shared. “When you’re part of a team, you owe it to everyone to give your best.”
Similarly, Senior Brooklyn Bauer, the Secretary of Rotary Interact, emphasized the importance of reliability and effort in club leadership.
“As Secretary, my responsibility is to make sure the club runs smoothly,” Bauer said. “You owe it to the people you serve with to stay organized and committed, especially when you’re representing Rotary in the community.”
These reflections highlight a key truth: participation in clubs and sports is about more than personal gain. It’s about contributing to something larger than yourself and ensuring the success of the group as a whole.
What Do We Owe to These Clubs and Activities After We Graduate?
Leaving high school doesn’t mean leaving behind the organizations we were part of. For many, the lessons and values learned through clubs and activities continue to shape their actions long after graduation.
Hope Call, a freshman at the University of Oregon, Kayhi Alum, and a former member of Ketchikan Youth for Change, still feels a strong sense of responsibility to the organization that shaped her in high school.
“Even now in college, I feel like I owe it to that organization and the people who looked up to me to stay true to what I represented back then.”
Catrina McCord, now at Portland State University, echoed this sentiment. Her high school involvement in Rotary Interact left her with a lifelong commitment to service.
“I feel like I owe it to Rotary to live out that mission in my life, even after high school,” McCord said. “It’s not just something you leave behind; it stays with you.”
These stories demonstrate how the principles instilled in high school organizations can guide individuals well into adulthood.
The responsibilities we carry don’t end when we graduate—they evolve, shaping how we lead and contribute to new communities.
What Do We Owe to the Jobs That We Hold?
The responsibilities we hold in the workplace vary depending on the job, but they often reflect a balance between loyalty to the organization and personal goals.
For Alan Coffin, a retired project manager for Vigor Alaska, loyalty was the cornerstone of employment in his time.
“When you got a job back in my day, you stayed there until you retired,” Coffin said. “There was loyalty, a sense that you owed it to the company to stick around and do your best.”
Today, however, perspectives on workplace responsibility are shifting.
Elijah Reese, a dispatcher for Taquan Air, prioritizes what works best for him when choosing where to work.
“For me, it’s about what pay and benefits make the most sense,” Reese explained. “If I’m paying to go to work, it’s not worth it.”
For Junior Aliyah Glover, who has worked at the Ketchikan Discovery Center for two years, responsibility in the workplace is about doing the job well while maintaining boundaries.
“I owe it to my employers to show up and give 100%, but I also owe it to myself to make sure I’m in a job that aligns with my values,” Glover said.
These varied perspectives highlight the evolving nature of workplace responsibility, balancing loyalty with the need for personal and financial fulfillment.
What Do We Owe to Kayhi as Students?
As students, our responsibilities to Kayhi extend beyond academics. Principal Rick Dormer believes that being part of Kayhi means contributing to a positive school culture.
“Every student has a role to play in making Kayhi a place where everyone feels welcome and supported,” Dormer said. “It’s about respect—respect for each other, for the school, and for the opportunities you have here.”
Kayhi Librarian Caitlyn Jacobson sees responsibility in how students use the resources and opportunities available to them.
“When students engage with the library, they’re showing respect for learning and for the people who work hard to provide those resources.”
For Kayhi Junior Piper Bonzo, being a student at Kayhi means upholding the school’s values in everyday actions.
“Being part of Kayhi means I owe it my respect and effort,” Bonzo said. “I want to represent our school with pride, if I’m in class, at a school event, or just out in the community, I don’t Kayhi to get a bad rep for my actions.”
Sophomore Sophie Cook, who has served on Student Body Association committees since her freshman year, sees her responsibilities as extending beyond her success.
“Working with people who have different perspectives taught me the importance of listening and understanding,” Cook said. “I owe it to Kayhi to carry that lesson into everything I do here.”
Junior Mason Avila believes that responsibility at Kayhi comes down to one simple idea: effort.
“If you’re part of Kayhi, you owe it your best effort,” Avila said. “That’s how you show respect for the school and for yourself.”
These reflections emphasize that being part of Kayhi means contributing to its legacy and ensuring that it remains a place of opportunity and growth for future students.
The Weight of Responsibility
What do we owe to the organizations we’re involved with? Whether it’s a club, a workplace, or a school, the answer is complex.
From teamwork and accountability to loyalty and respect, our responsibilities shape not only the organizations themselves but also the people we become.
Ultimately, these responsibilities remind us that we are part of something larger than ourselves—something that challenges us to grow, lead, and act with purpose.
Whether we’re students, employees, or alumni, what we owe to these organizations is a reflection of what they have given to us.