Many people (children, 'tweens', teens, and young adults in particular) don't understand why respect is important- especially giving it to superiors or figures with authority. In reality, respect is much more important than we realize.
Respect is important because without it, many members of mankind would not have morals. There are two main forms of respect; self-respect and respect for others. Other sub-categories of respect either fall under one of the two, or both. For example, respect for nature, respect for other cultures, and respect for social 'norms' fall under the category of respect for others, whereas respect for values, respect for family, and respect for human beings fall under self-respect. Many if not most or all of the sub-categories for self-respect also belong under the category of respect for others. This is because if you respect others' values, family, and each-other, you are more likely to gain respect back. Even if you don't get respect back, it is still important to show it. If you have, show, and give respect for others' values and family, you are more likely to get along with them and share empathy, or 'walk in their shoes'.
Respect for one-another should just be common sense. We are all human beings, we all have emotions, confidence, self-esteem, and pride, no matter how low or seemingly non-existent it is. Giving respect to superiors and adults does help, even if it doesn't seem like it right away or even if you don't feel like they deserve it. In all honesty, everybody deserves respect, whether you give it or not is up to you.
Every human on Earth has worked to get where they are- whether they are are the CEO in a Corporate business, the President of the United States, a worker in the military, or even a fast-food employee, a teacher, or a homeless person. Every choice you make leads you to where you are and will be. Respect is something most people feel is earned, but they don't realize that every single one of us has earned respect just by being where they are. Homeless people, for example, do work. They may not work in a company, or get money, or even live in a shelter, but they work for their lives. They work for food. The definition of 'work' is putting effort into a task, regardless of how enormous or minuscule the task is.
All in all, respect should be given to anybody, especially your superiors. It doesn't matter if you like them or not, or even if you feel they deserve it or not. Give them respect. Most likely they know better than you do- after all, they were once in school, 13, 14, 15, or even 20 years old, and most likely they have been in the same situation as you, if not one similar. Respect is something we all deserve, and just giving it to each-other will make a difference- even if that difference is giving a bottle of water to a homeless person, getting better grades, earning a friend, or getting a promotion.
I really hope this helped you. When I began writing this, I didn't plan on writing so much. I got caught up in it and even realized things that I didn't before-hand. If this didn't help whatever assignment you needed it for, hopefully it will have helped you realize how important respect is- I sure didn't until now. Have a great day and good luck!
~Xoxo~
-^Wiittle^-
（＾ω＾）
