Good Life Award - Winners
2008
Good Life Award Writing Contest
Honorable Mention
Kristofer Williams
8th Grade, Watts Middle School
| If I want to be happy in life and have fun then I should do as Dottie Yeck says, “Be good and do good.” To be good I need to have a great attitude toward life, so I’m respectful and conscientious. By doing good I am showing my attitude through actions. This can be done by doing something as simple as holding the door for someone. I have volunteered before, and I know it’s not always fun, but I’m rewarded with the feeling of accomplishing a good deed. Dottie Yeck was like that. She donated her time and money to help our community through things like supporting our local parks. Both my attitude and my actions determine how I will live my life. This will take integrity, perseverance, and a strong sense of pride. I have to ask myself several important questions like, “Am I doing the right thing for myself?” or, “Will this choice affect my relationship with my friends or family?” I know I can’t only rely on what others think, but what I know is the right choice for me. And I can’t just give up when I am facing difficulty, I have to follow through and keep trying, but if I am really struggling then I reach out for help. Whatever I’m doing, it’s important for me to carry a strong sense of pride and respect. I must always keep these principles in mind when I do the smallest chores or even the biggest feats. To quote a famous cliché, “Practice makes perfect,” but this isn’t always true, because if you aren’t practicing the right thing, then you won’t be perfect. A more suitable phrase would be, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” In life, practicing virtues is a vital character-building process. I realize that in life there are always going to be obstacles in your way, and they are there for a reason. I believe that they are put there as a test of your strength, to see how far you can push yourself to go, to a reasonable extent. But sometimes you have to experiment to see where your limits are. And if—just if—you try, you might discover that you have broken through boundaries that you didn’t think you could. It’s all about trying your hardest, and if you succeed, then congratulations! But hey, don’t get down if you don’t succeed. Get back up, try again, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes when things get a little tough, I have to reach out for support whether it is my friends, family, or teachers. Sometimes the best thing is to be independent because it builds strong self-dependence, but you have to accept help every once in a while. There will be times when it’s best to travel the road alone and times when you will need others to travel with you. Only you can make your own decisions. Go, and live the good life! |