Values, values, values

What are your values and how do they define you? Where do they fit in terms of your council's values? In terms of the community's values?

My values are central to who I am and who I strive to be each day. I know I am not perfect, but whenever I have a decision to make, the first thing that comes to mind is what I value. A majority of my values are a product of the example my parents have set for me, but many are a product of the experiences and obstacles that I have encountered throughout my life. Honestly, I think that three things really stick out to me when I think about how I came to adopting a firm set of values:

1. Family: My parents constantly lead by example and helped us adopt a strong moral compass to live our lives by each day. Through their actions and expectations for us, I believe that I established a foundation for my values that I still practice today. I value my family and how close we are!

2. Starting in 6th grade I began playing golf; anyone who plays golfs knows that it is a game of integrity, discipline, and honesty (except when Tiger Woods plays.. ZINGER.. haha just kidding not really though he lost my respect). Anyways, I became extremely dedicated to the game, and I would practice from 7a.m. till 5p.m. or later everyday in the summer and then after schools till it got to late. Through all those hours of practice, I really acquired an appreciation for hard work and discipline. Then, when it came to playing, I learned about the value of integrity and honesty, but beyond these things, golf really kept me out of trouble. In high school, I remember being pressured to drink, and I always would either be able to avoid the situation b/c I was traveling to a golf tournament or had the strength to stand up for what I believed in b/c I had acquired that discipline and was focused on achieving my goals.

3. Then, I got to college, and my faith really grew. I always believed in God, but at school, it became a personal choice to go to church every Sunday. Back home when I was younger, I think I went to church b/c we went as a family and b/c I felt like it was the right to do. Yet, at college, I joined a bible study, and I went to church b/c I wanted to be there. I wanted to know more about God and be a better Christian. Over these last four years, I have learned even more about myself through my faith. Love. Compassion. Joy. Hope. Serving others. Are just a few things, but through my faith, I feel that my values have only grown stronger and helped me grow as a person.

So I know that is a lot about what I value--family, integrity, honesty, compassion, unconditional love, do the right thing in all things. I think that all of my experiences and challenges that I have faced have helped define me as an individual and only helped me develop stronger values.

In respect to the councils values, I have sorta eluded to those above by talking about striving to do the right thing in all one's actions and to reach one's full potential, but I have not mentioned other aspects that I believe both the council and community "say" that we value such as friendship (I would be lost without my friends; they are like family!), service, scholarship, personal/professional development (both of these, though not stated exactly as so above, I value too!).

To wrap up my novel, I would say that my values are congruent with both the council and community as in life I believe that I strive to reach my full potential in all aspects of my life from being a good friend to serving my community.