You might ask a thousand people a thousand times and get thousands of different answers but the real definition of integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles or righteousness. Integrity is honesty, ethics, morality, virtue, and just plain decency. Without these qualities in a person you are more like an empty shell with nothing to fill it but dark promises of the future that will never happen. Integrity is a key component to how a person builds up their moral principles and without it you will be left without any key aspects to how life works. This is also a huge trait that tells someone your values. In my eyes without integrity you really have no values when it comes to your moral or spiritual life. If you think that integrity is not important to your current lives then you're dead wrong! How would you like it if someone walked behind your best friend when you were getting lunch and saw a twenty dollar bill fall out of his/her pocket, then took it and you were behind the culprit? What would you do and how would you feel? If everyone was a participant in integrity we would have nothing to worry about but sadly enough, we have plenty to worry about!
While integrity is an easy concept to grasp you aren’t just born with it. You have to earn integrity just as you have to earn God’s grace, through hard work and dedication. Having a good example to follow is also a very important factor in gaining integrity. To me the source of one’s own integrity is the parents of those who live by a moral code. As a kid, your parents always teach you things that you may not have thought of as integrity since you just saw it as simple constructive corrections. One example of the ways parents teach you integrity is through telling you as a kid that you must always thank someone for a gift that you are given- this teaches you to always be thankful for the things you are given. You see, integrity is important to how life around the world works and as many scientific theories even prove, everything good or bad has a source!
To me a person with integrity must live a very fulfilling life. A person with integrity is someone who knows exactly where their morals should be when it comes to regular everyday life and their future. Through these qualities that come with integrity this person may go about their day with a constant idea of virtue in the back of their minds. I do believe that I have gained some integrity but I still have my weak points. Even as a young child, a toddler even, I was always willing to help others. Everyday, I volunteer myself for something different when it comes to school, parish, or after-school activities so that must mean something. Though I do enjoy helping others and seeing their faces happy or filled with joy, there are definitely still times (though none come to mind) that I was a person who lacked integrity... I believe that at times I do have my points where integrity takes over but there’s always room for improvement!
Click on this link to see a video clip about me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA8ONItxlDs&feature=em-upload_owner
Hi Michael! I really liked your explanation of integrity and what it means to you. I also liked how you said that we have been learning what integrity is for a long time. It isn't something we learn right away, we learn it over the years starting when we are really little.
ReplyDelete-Grayson SGGS
Hello Grayson! Thank you for your appreciation of some of my statements. I truly believe that you start learning about integrity as a small child!
DeleteMichael, you made some very good points in this blog. I think you have a very good understanding of what integrity is. I think when you said "Integrity is honesty, ethics, morality, virtue, and just plain decency", you made a very good point because many people in our society don't live by these values.
ReplyDeletePatrick, I definitely agree with you when you said that many people do not live by these values of integrity. You definitely understand the many points that I tried to put across through my blogging!
DeleteGreat blog post Michael! I liked how you explained that we are not born with integrity, but with hard work and dedication we can earn it. It's really good that you enjoy helping people because that is a good way to live out a life of integrity. I also watched your video. Good job on getting student council president!
ReplyDelete-Benjamin SGGS
DeleteThank you for your understanding that you are not born with integrity but with a little work put into your life, you can achieve the goal of living with integrity. I would also like to thank you for your "God job on getting student council president!" comment.
DeleteMichael, I really liked your use of the simile, "Without these qualities in a person you are more like an empty shell with nothing to fill it but dark promises of the future that will never happen." In my opinion, this is very true. Without integrity, what kind of a people would we be today?
ReplyDelete-Ysabel SGGS
Great post Michael! What really hit me was "You have to earn integrity just as you have to earn God’s grace, through hard work and dedication." That just rings true to me. I also think that it is awesome that everyday you volunteer for something different. What is your favorite thing you have volunteered for? Why?
ReplyDeleteGabe S - SGGS
I love your blog! It almost sounds like it wasn't even written by an 8th grader, more like a high school student! I really like the point you made when you said,"Without these qualities in a person you are more like an empty shell with nothing to fill it but dark promises of the future that will never happen." That to me is the best point you could make. Integrity is a reason for are being here.
ReplyDelete~Emma;SGGS
Awesome blog Michael! I really enjoyed reading your post. You had an excellent ending sentence. "Anyone can have integrity in their lives and it just takes a little work. It’s best too!" What you said is really true. Again, Great job!
ReplyDelete~Marissa- SGGS
I really enjoyed your blog MIchael! I especially like the first sentence: "You might ask a thousand people a thousand times and get thousands of different answers but the real definition of integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles or righteousness." It really sets the mood for the blog and it caught my attention right away! Great work!
ReplyDelete~Elizabeth C- SGGS
Great blog Michael! I really liked it when you said "Integrity is a key component to how a person builds up their moral principles and without it you will be left without any key aspects to how life works." because that is very true. People who do not have integrity have less more principles for themselves.
ReplyDelete-Marc H. SGGS
Great job with your blog! I enjoyed how personal, and informational it was. I also liked how it was full of great examples which gave a clear picture of what integrity is. I loved the line you used ‘“ Having a good example to follow is also a very important factor in gaining integrity.” I also believe that everyone should have a good role model and someone to look up to and learn from. Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteJulia T. - SGGS
Amazing blog! I liked how you referred that parents give you integrity. I could completely visualize your examples on integrity. I am fascinated that you are voluntary and that you are a member of your student council.
ReplyDelete~Kurt|SGGS
This is such a well-written blog post, Michael! I never really thought about the way you mentioned that the source of one's own integrity is from their parents. The part about integrity being the major component to building up moral principles makes so much sense. Integrity is like the building block or foundation of becoming a more moral person.
ReplyDeleteAutumn;SGGS
Your blog was very well written Michael. I really like the way you used really life examples and how you told us where our integrity came from. I never really thought about all the teaching our parent did. Your blog was very enjoyable to read, I hope i can read more of your work soon.
ReplyDeleteKatherine:SGGS
This was a great post! I liked how you gave examples of what integrity is. Great Job!
ReplyDelete~Daniel G SGGS
Nice blog! I especially liked the part where you said we have to earn integrity like God's grace. Jack McKenna/SGGS
ReplyDeleteWow! I really like this post. I especially like how you explained what integrity is. You put a lot of time and detail into this post and it really shows! I also try to help out and be honest whenever I get the chance to. But I, too don't show integrity sometimes when I don't even notice that I'm being that way. A lot of people these days show no integrity at all. I think it is sad but if that's the way that they want to live their lives, then by all means, they will be that way. Integrity is very important in our present lives because if we treat people without intergrity now, it'll be bad for our future. In all, this was a very good post and I agree with you 100%.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your rather encouraging comment. Everything that you stated in your comment is very true! I agree with you completely when you said that integrity is very important in our world today! It all starts with one individual and with that we could live in a world of kindness!
DeleteGreat job! I liked how you said parents can give you good Integrity. I agree with that.
ReplyDelete