SACRIFICE

At its core, democracy is not merely a system of government; it is a social contract that demands active participation, compromise, and willingness to sacrifice individual desires for the collective good. This definition, belief, fact is embedded in my family’s history. It is a history of commitment to the ideals of democracy, demonstrated through decades of military service.

My family immigrated from Ireland to America in the 1700s. Among my forefathers was Joseph Copley, a minuteman who fought during the Revolutionary War and helped lay the foundation for our representative democracy. Joseph’s son, Hickok Copley, battled against Britain during the War of 1812. Another ancestor, George Copley, served in the Union Army during the Civil War and later retired as a schoolteacher, leaving a mark on the education of future citizens.

My great-uncle, William Copley, served as an Army doctor in World War I, while my great-grandfather served in World War II as a B-52 bomber pilot. This willingness to risk life to defend democracy at home and abroad has continued in more recent years: My grandfather, Robert Copley, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War; my father served in the Air Force during the Global War on Terrorism, launched after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001; and my brother joined the Marines, medically discharged for injuries sustained while serving.

This legacy of sacrifice made a deep impression on me as I grew up in Greeley, Colorado. I have learned through my family that personal sacrifice, particularly in the form of military service, is a way to pursue the betterment of society and to uphold our country’s democracy; it is a way to be the change we seek. It might not be a surprise that I’ve known since I was a kid that I wanted to join the U.S. military.

Now, I am attending CSU with a full-ride Army ROTC scholarship and serve as executive officer of our Ram Battalion, meaning I am second in command, leading a battalion of 135 ROTC cadets. I will graduate in May as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. My family’s ethic of service has also inspired me to volunteer as a tutor, at food banks, and at animal shelters.

I am proud that my family’s history – my history – embodies the idea that democracy requires personal commitment and readiness to put the collective good above individual desires. It underscores how ordinary individuals can make extraordinary contributions to our nation’s democratic ideals by sacrificing personal comfort and safety for the greater good. The dedication of my family members is a reminder that democracy is not passive; instead, it thrives on the active participation of its citizens.

Photo at top: Matt Copley is a senior studying business administration at CSU. Photo: Mary Neiberg.