Essay Exercise
Who do you admire
The six pillars of character according to the Josephson Institute include trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
Identify someone you admire and who exemplifies these pillars through his/her words and daily actions. They could be someone you work with, a family member, a teacher, a mentor, clergy, or someone famous.
Reflect on the following questions, and write corresponding responses.
How does this individual define and/or exhibit the difference between right and wrong? How have you witnessed this person trying to do what is right?
This individual, my pastor, acts for the glory of God. He dedicates all his time to helping others find God, better themselves, feel better, find closure, etc. I have witnessed him trying to do what was right. For example, he came once late at night when there was a discussion between one of my sisters and my parents. Even though he had no sort of obligation to do so, he came to try to mitigate the discussion, and he did so successfully because he cares about our family
How does this individual set a good example for everyone?
He has been very open and honest about his very troubled past. He had a rough upbringing and his father, his brother and he suffered from addiction. Pastor Joel, however, got cleaned and found God. A lot of people who seek a higher power have had a similar past. He is proof that giving up for a life of suffering is not the only option; that there is hope for everyone to turn their lives around and live a life they're proud of.
How does this person make the world a better place from your perspective?
Pastor Joel makes the work a better place each and every day of his life through his devotion to helping others. He will always spend as much time as necessary with whoever needs his help.
How does this person live according to each of the six pillars of characters?
He meets all the definitions set forth by Josephson to be considered trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring, and a good citizen. He shows he can be trusted by others, he is always respectful of others, he takes responsibility for his past, he is fair in being nondiscriminatory, and he cares about and maintains his commitment to his community.
How would you describe your own character? How would you describe your “ultimate” character? How can you emulate the person of character you admire?
My current character may need some work, but that work is ongoing.
My consistent attendance at church is a step in that direction. My seeking of counseling and psychological and psychiatric help are also examples of my work in this direction. I view my “ultimate” character as someone who can easily identify a situation as an ethical dilemma if it is such, and can carefully evaluate the situation to take the best course of action.
I can better emulate Pastor Joel by spending more time with him, getting to know him better, including how he makes decisions, and continuing the other examples or work on this front.