What does it mean to be human?

       

Here is the essay that I have submitted to the Milpitas Library Essay Contest. I was one of the 10 lucky contestants in the seventh and eighth grade that won. I received a gift card from amazon worth $100! Please do not plagiarize any part of my writing.

        What does it mean to be human? Over the course of several million years, humans have evolved in many different ways, each for the eventual benefit of mankind. As climates change and as other animals adapt, mankind has also made additions to its lifestyle. Through natural selection, only the fittest of animals have survived. Advantageous features of humans have caused humans to stay at the top of the food chain. It is not uncommon for individuals to exhibit characteristics that we consider normal, such as laughter, weeping, and understanding. But, has it always been this way? Have we always felt compelled to aid those who are in need?

        Anthropologists have made it clear that humans have evolved physically and have made continuous changes to their lifestyle, such as cooking cleaning, and communicating to each other in many different ways. We have learned to stay in groups and take care of our young. We know how to make tools that help us. Our upright movement has offered us aid. A common example that we witness about every day is walking. This not only freed up our hands to carry more things, but it also made us seem more intimidating to other animals. First, Sahelanthropus tchadensis had an angled thighbone, which made a strong bridge between the leg and the thigh. Next, Australopithecus anamensis formed a curve of the lower back, which absorbed shock. Lastly, Homo Erectus developed a longer thigh bone, which enabled wider strides.

This shows the physical development of humans that help them stay alive, but the inner characteristics of humans also shape their character. We are able to understand humanly characteristics that prevail among us as I mentioned earlier, such as happiness and distress. Humans live longer than other animals. We tend to communicate in a more efficient way than other humans. Many languages have been developed on the face of this earth. But, even if we do not understand the language that someone else is speaking, we have the ability to read each other’s face with ease. It has been hardwired into our brains through many years of practice. This is only one of the reasons that makes humans unique. Unlike other animals, we have big brains, which enable us to hold many decades of memory and let us solve many problems. In my opinion, however, the main factor that distinguishes humans from other beings are feelings. Chimpanzees may be able to identify basic colors, such as red and blue, and though it is possible that in the long run that they may be able to perform the same activities as humans, what they lack is many of the  emotions that we possess. As different species of humans developed, their sympathy has developed too. We are able to associate feelings that we have experienced with the way others may be feeling too. It is likely that you understand the feeling of disappointment and will be able to empathize with people feeling that way.

To sum it all up, my opinion of humans has indeed changed by viewing the information from the exhibit. I have understood that other animals are almost as capable as humans to perform basic activities. However, I have noticed one difference. Animals, even our closest relatives, may have difficulty expressing the same emotions that we do. I have been amazed at the way the  bodies of humans have changed, but the mental evolution of them have especially made an impression to me.