Blog 1 – This I Believe – by Brandon Weber
One ethical principle that I have always believed in is the ‘Concern for Others’. I was raised up believing in the ‘Golden Rule’; treat others as you wanted to be treated. Therefore, I was taught to treat people with respect from the very beginning. With that, I have always tried to treat my family with respect; which led me to realize and understand the importance of having concern for others.
Growing up with the mindset that you need to have a concern for others made me realize how far that actually can go. I understand what can be accomplished when everyone has a concern for everyone. With more people realizing the impact of having concerns for other people, then there will ultimately be less harm around the world. This value teaches you how far situations will change for the better if you have a concern for other people. When someone has this attitude it shows that they have good character to those that are watching, which will set an example for others to having a concern for those around them or even half way around the world.
The ways I have tried to carry this principle with me throughout my life was by staying connected with my family and knowing what is going on in their lives. I also got to practice this principle when I was a captain of my lacrosse team and an assistant swim coach. Those two positions gave me the chance to look out for the new freshman and offer advice or help them in any way I could that would benefit them in the long run. While coaching if I was able to teach one swimmer something new at practice I considered it a successful day. When you have a concern for others and go out and try to offer your help in any way, you feel a sense of gratification. Now that is not the reason you should have a concern for others but when you get that result, it will continue you having a concern for others.
The amount of changes there have been in our world due to this principle demonstrate the good that can come out when an individual has a concern for others. For example; Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, without them having a concern for others who knows what todays day and age would be like. MLK once said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” this quote should be taught and practiced by everyone. Issues on important matters do not get resolved by one person alone, they go out and seek for help from others. If we did not have a concern for others, close to nothing would get accomplished and many more people would be in harm.
This principle is so important to me because of the lessons I have learned throughout my life and the impact it has made on the world. One thing about having a concern for others is that it can represent you as a leader to those who are watching. Which shows two things; that someone is good at working and understanding people. However, it also shows that by having a concern for others you are looked at as a leader in some way. Such an easy principle should not make someone an automatic leader, once more people in this world start having a concern we will see the benefits for years to come.
Blog 1- This I Believe… by Vanessa Altner
I believe… in integrity.
Growing up a gymnast I learned integrity and discipline younger than most people my age. My coach was an elite gymnast that was on the United States of America National team and was a college gymnast at the University of Georgia. She also was in the Army and was on a women football league so in so many words, she was pretty strict. Every day me and my teammates walked into our gym we were expected to do what she asked us to do and stay true to that. In gymnastics you are told the only way to be good at your sport is to practice long hard hours until your eventually perfect, but that is not what my coach asked of us. Are coach wanted us to be true to ourselves and learn to be a hard worker on the mat and throughout life. My teammates and I could get up on the balance beam and do a skill 50 times and fall flat on our faces, and it was fine. But the moment you got up on the beam and froze still in fear, anxiety, or disgust that was when she would be furious. To her the fact that we were trying our hardest and strive to try new skills was what she wanted from us. She wanted to watch us grow with strength and confidence, not winning and pouting. To her integrity showed her that she didn’t always have to be physically there to know that we were trying our hardest at what we were trying to accomplish. My coach being so persistent on how important integrity was really made me hold that word at a higher standard. To me it really reflects on a person’s reputation and it is one of the most important qualities to have. It really holds a person accountable for their actions. Integrity just shows off how genuine, loyal, and hard working a person can truly be. I honestly think it’s one of the best qualities to be called because the value to the word means so much. I learned this lesson young but it will not end there. I will use integrity throughout my entire life not only in gymnastics. Integrity is extremely important quality to have through school, the work place, home life, and anything else you can imagine. At the end of the day being honest and wholesome is sometimes what gets people through their day.
This I Believe…by Marcus Cummings
I have been the only child all my life. There is a saying I was told one day “You like being alone but hate feeling lonely.” Being someone who old had myself to grow up I was felt very secluded. I think that made it harder to gain friends. During my younger life, I was always being forced into things like early morning swim practices, being a part of an academic camp, and just forcing me to branch out. My mind would clutter up with questions like “What if these new people I meet don’t like me?”, “Is the way I was raised affect how I speak or interact with other people?” and a bunch of other self-doubting questions. But one could also say that being forced into things made me who I was today.
I was very shy because I was not comfortable with myself. As mentioned earlier, I was constantly doubting myself but this time it was physically and emotionally. I didn’t like how I looked, sometimes I thought I was too nice, or too excited, or just minor things that I thought were wrong. I am in no way saying but me being an only child was the source of me not liking myself. I will say that being alone made me discover and think about things, negative and positive. I am not very sure as to why that happened.
I was also very shy in elementary, middle, and high school but in a way, I used that to my advantage. A lot of people tend not to “mess with the quiet guy.” I was always in my thoughts and always thinking about life, my grades, my family, my grades. So, yes, I am fully acknowledging that I was not always paying attention in class because my mind would race. It affected my grades and the way I did some things. However, all of this changed in high school.
College has been the best and worst experience of my life physically, mentally, and emotionally. I gained friends from actually being myself. My best friend and I actually met from me stepping out of my comfort zone. I was sitting by myself in the cafeteria and she came up to me and started talking to me. In another world, I would have got up and walked away or would have said “yes” when she asked if someone was sitting next to me. However, I said no, and we have been inseparable ever since.
I told this story because I thought it was important. I have never confessed all of this on paper or to a group of people. Sharing my story was very therapeutic.