Page 3-Fourth Issue August 2017

Photo courtesy of  Joe Smietanka's parents

Joe's Corner 

This is a section dedicated for student writing and named after Joe Smietanka, who passed away in 2016. This section is named after him because of his dedication and love for the art of writing.

We are looking for student writing to publish in future issues please submit your writing to the helenahelmnews@gmail.com

Integrity, Honor, and Respect: Important Core Values

By Joy Y Kostka

     Integrity, honor, and respect are the most important values a person can have.  Without one of these values, it is impossible to have the other two.  Integrity is “the quality of being honest and fair”; honor is defined as “respect that is given to someone who is admired”; and respect is “a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way” (Honor; Integrity; Respect, 2016).

     I was taught from a very young age to call my elders sir and ma’am to show respect.  I was taught by my mom that honesty was important, if I looked into her eyes that she would know if I was lying.  This caused me to tell the truth when I was little.  I learned of integrity when I joined the United States Army.  I am proud of my military service and the values taught to me during that time in my life.  These are the values I have learned in my life and that I try to live by.

     If a person earns trust though their integrity, that trust will compel people to tell others of their integrity.  Amy Rees Anderson (2012), founder of REES Capital, states that if she could teach one value for a person to live by it would be that “Success will come and go, but integrity is forever.”  If a person is dishonest in one aspect of their life, they will most likely be dishonest in many aspects of their life. Associating with these types of people can cause a person’s character to be judged by these contacts and can change our character for the worst.  People try to validate their reasons for being dishonest, like applicants exaggerating in a job interview because they desperately need the job.  This loss of integrity over trivial matters is becoming more and more common in today’s world.  We need to be honest and have integrity if we want others to trust and respect us.

     A show I watch with my daughters all the time that teaches about honesty and five other values is My Little Pony: The Magic of Friendship.  In the show, each of the mane six ponies represents an element of harmony: honesty is represented by Applejack.  Applejack shows children how being honest is the right thing to do.  My children and I enjoy our time together watching the show, and I enjoy that it is teaching my daughters how to be honest, kind, loyal, and generous.  Also, it teaches the importance of laughter, and the magic of friendship. 

     I try to live my life with honor so others will have respect for me.  While going to school, I have found two ladies that I admire and that I feel have honor: Karen Henderson and Betsy Hussey.  I am not just saying this because they are my instructors; both have taught me so much this semester.  Karen is so generous with her time and advises the Helena Helm and the Trio S2S club.  I have also witnessed how both instructors are very giving with their time to help students.  Karen has really shown me how to improve my writing this semester, during Starfish appointments she has made time for.  When I am ready to finally enter the job market, I will be asking Karen for fashion tips or to go shopping for new clothes with me since she is so fashionably dressed all the time.  I admire Betsy because I see a professional in my field of study, a teacher for multiple campuses, a mother to small children, and a member of her daughter’s preschool board.  I am awed by how much she accomplishes while being a mom, and look at her and Karen as role models.  I admire both ladies, so I feel they are full of honor.

      I try to treat others with respect since I want them to show respect to me.  I was taught from a young age to respect my elders, things like waiting my turn to speak when an older person is talking or saying please and thank you.  I try to teach these signs of respect to my children because I believe respect is a very important thing for children to learn.  I try to teach them to not make fun of others and respect that sometimes people have different ways of doing things.  Respect is very important to me, and I am trying to share that concept with my children. 

     Integrity, honor, and respect are the most important values a person can have in their life.  I firmly believe that without one of these values, it is impossible to have the other two.  I am trying to teach these values to my children and hope they grow up to be honest, full of honor, and respectful young ladies.