There are many qualities that can easily distinguish a person with good character. Someone with good character is honorable even when that is not the easiest option. They are always true to themselves and their peers. They stand by their morals at all times and above all else they are able to recognize their own personal weaknesses and grow from their individual struggles.
From the moment I walked onto the campus of Texas A&M University until the glorious day when I will receive my diploma, I am constantly reminded of the Aggie Honor Code. “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.” This Code is not merely a collection of words, but it is the very foundation that makes A&M one of the most unique universities in the nation. It is not something to recite religiously or casually memorize, but it is our way of life. We take pride in our code in our classrooms, throughout our organizations, within our relationships, and across our entire campus. This mentality demonstrates the heart of our Aggie family, and as a part of this family we are expected to live out this code each and every day.
Throughout our lives we are faced with several different opportunities and choices that may challenge our character. There is always an easy way out and there are always moments when we may be tempted to stray from our morals. Whether someone is struggling to pass a class or deciding whether to help a struggling stranger along the way, we are all faced with decisions on a daily basis. Our decisions not only affect our lives, but they directly influence the lives of the people that surround us. If someone chooses to cheat their way through college, then they end up lying to their peers, professors, and future employers. By accepting a degree from this university, you are claiming to possess the necessary knowledge and have obtained the acquired skills required for your specific program. Ultimately, dishonestly leads people to cheat themselves out of a proper education and sacrifice their integrity along the way. Discipline is defined as the behavior in accordance with the rules of conduct maintained by training and control, and I believe this is one of the key components of someone with good character. Our Aggie Ring, representing our honor code and traditions, is a symbol of a person with admirable character. As students, we work tediously for years building up to the moment when we receive our ring. We are disciplined enough to earn an honorable degree with our own knowledge, we are courageous enough to stand apart from the crowd, and we are wise enough to know the value of good character and what it means to be an Aggie.
Although the Honor Code does not specify “good qualities,” we live in such a diverse country that it is merely impossible to set a concrete list of qualities that allow us to judge whether a person has good character. Due to this diversity, people are able to contribute several different points of views, strengths, and experiences. There are various morals and religious standpoints that make individuals unique. No one person can claim to be correct and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. In the midst of all of this confusion, I believe the true definition of someone with good character is someone who is firm in their morals, unwavering in their beliefs, and truthful throughout struggles and triumphs. Just because you do not believe exactly what another person believes, it speaks volumes when a person is unwilling to budge in order to satisfy the pressures from their peers or satisfy the questionable demands from an individual or group. One of the reasons that there are so many topics that are classified as “grey areas” in our country (such as abortion or gay marriage) is because there are so many people that refuse to compromise their beliefs regardless of the opposing party. When I think about good character in this sense, one word comes to mind… that word is martyr. Reflecting back at some of the most famous leaders in history, such as Saint Theresa and Gandhi, I am reminded of the value of good character. The majority of people hold onto their infamous legacies because they were steadfast in their beliefs despite the consequences. An individual is not required to sacrifice their own life in order to have admirable qualities like several other leaders, but simply be unwavering on something that they feel strongly about is an irreplaceable quality.
Finally, the third most important quality of a person with good character is someone who is humble. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. A person must be able to admit their flaws as a human and learn from their mistakes. From the moment that we are born until the day that we die, we never stop learning. We aren’t born knowing everything. We must acquire this knowledge through a process of trial and error. A person of good character isn’t someone who is perfect all of the time, but it is someone who strives for perfection. This constant struggle is going to the full of mistakes and lapses in good judgment but that doesn’t matter as long as person is able to learn from this mistake and grow from it and try to do make the same one. When I was young I thought that the world revolved around me and that if I wanted food I deserved food or if I wanted that toy then I was going to have that toy. I didn’t know any better. Looking back, this selfish attitude was not a positive quality to have in a person. Over the years I began to go farther and farther out into the world and I realized that I was merely a speck in the overall view of the world. This enormous realization gave me a quality that I feel is a strong quality of character and that is a sense of humility and acceptance of my own faults. By realizing that I’m not perfect I can then strive to be. I realize that I will never be perfect and although this can be crushing at times is it also exciting because that just means that I always have something to strive to become closer to. This constant strive to be perfect is, in my opinion, the most important because it the concrete that reinforces the other qualities that make a person of good character because they will always try to do what is right no matter what.
Written By: Luke Urbanovsky
From the moment I walked onto the campus of Texas A&M University until the glorious day when I will receive my diploma, I am constantly reminded of the Aggie Honor Code. “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.” This Code is not merely a collection of words, but it is the very foundation that makes A&M one of the most unique universities in the nation. It is not something to recite religiously or casually memorize, but it is our way of life. We take pride in our code in our classrooms, throughout our organizations, within our relationships, and across our entire campus. This mentality demonstrates the heart of our Aggie family, and as a part of this family we are expected to live out this code each and every day.
Throughout our lives we are faced with several different opportunities and choices that may challenge our character. There is always an easy way out and there are always moments when we may be tempted to stray from our morals. Whether someone is struggling to pass a class or deciding whether to help a struggling stranger along the way, we are all faced with decisions on a daily basis. Our decisions not only affect our lives, but they directly influence the lives of the people that surround us. If someone chooses to cheat their way through college, then they end up lying to their peers, professors, and future employers. By accepting a degree from this university, you are claiming to possess the necessary knowledge and have obtained the acquired skills required for your specific program. Ultimately, dishonestly leads people to cheat themselves out of a proper education and sacrifice their integrity along the way. Discipline is defined as the behavior in accordance with the rules of conduct maintained by training and control, and I believe this is one of the key components of someone with good character. Our Aggie Ring, representing our honor code and traditions, is a symbol of a person with admirable character. As students, we work tediously for years building up to the moment when we receive our ring. We are disciplined enough to earn an honorable degree with our own knowledge, we are courageous enough to stand apart from the crowd, and we are wise enough to know the value of good character and what it means to be an Aggie.
Although the Honor Code does not specify “good qualities,” we live in such a diverse country that it is merely impossible to set a concrete list of qualities that allow us to judge whether a person has good character. Due to this diversity, people are able to contribute several different points of views, strengths, and experiences. There are various morals and religious standpoints that make individuals unique. No one person can claim to be correct and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. In the midst of all of this confusion, I believe the true definition of someone with good character is someone who is firm in their morals, unwavering in their beliefs, and truthful throughout struggles and triumphs. Just because you do not believe exactly what another person believes, it speaks volumes when a person is unwilling to budge in order to satisfy the pressures from their peers or satisfy the questionable demands from an individual or group. One of the reasons that there are so many topics that are classified as “grey areas” in our country (such as abortion or gay marriage) is because there are so many people that refuse to compromise their beliefs regardless of the opposing party. When I think about good character in this sense, one word comes to mind… that word is martyr. Reflecting back at some of the most famous leaders in history, such as Saint Theresa and Gandhi, I am reminded of the value of good character. The majority of people hold onto their infamous legacies because they were steadfast in their beliefs despite the consequences. An individual is not required to sacrifice their own life in order to have admirable qualities like several other leaders, but simply be unwavering on something that they feel strongly about is an irreplaceable quality.
Finally, the third most important quality of a person with good character is someone who is humble. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. A person must be able to admit their flaws as a human and learn from their mistakes. From the moment that we are born until the day that we die, we never stop learning. We aren’t born knowing everything. We must acquire this knowledge through a process of trial and error. A person of good character isn’t someone who is perfect all of the time, but it is someone who strives for perfection. This constant struggle is going to the full of mistakes and lapses in good judgment but that doesn’t matter as long as person is able to learn from this mistake and grow from it and try to do make the same one. When I was young I thought that the world revolved around me and that if I wanted food I deserved food or if I wanted that toy then I was going to have that toy. I didn’t know any better. Looking back, this selfish attitude was not a positive quality to have in a person. Over the years I began to go farther and farther out into the world and I realized that I was merely a speck in the overall view of the world. This enormous realization gave me a quality that I feel is a strong quality of character and that is a sense of humility and acceptance of my own faults. By realizing that I’m not perfect I can then strive to be. I realize that I will never be perfect and although this can be crushing at times is it also exciting because that just means that I always have something to strive to become closer to. This constant strive to be perfect is, in my opinion, the most important because it the concrete that reinforces the other qualities that make a person of good character because they will always try to do what is right no matter what.
Written By: Luke Urbanovsky