Good Life Award - Winners
2008
Good Life Award Writing Contest
Honorable Mention
Katelyn Martin
8th Grade, Watts Middle School
| To many, a good life means that you get your High School Diploma, go to a great college, and have the dream job. I agree that those are great goals in life and they will lead to a successful life, but those aren’t the only ways to have a good life. A good life is full of respect. I respect my parents, my elders, and especially myself. I make sure I am always nice and courteous to the people around me. Do you like to play soccer, football, or any other sport? If so you probably know the meaning of sportsmanship. To have sportsmanship is another way to say that you have respect. I have respect for my teammates and other players. If my team wins, I don’t brag to the other team. A good life is also full of care and kindness. To care can mean that I listen to my friends when they have problems such as, self-esteem, peer pressure, and obsessions, I’ll try to help. I would tell my friend that she doesn’t have to feel insecure about herself because she is a great person. I’ll try to give the best pep-talk that I can think of. When my parents’ friend was in need of a babysitter, I volunteered. If she tried to pay me, I wouldn’t let her because I love to help people when they need help. Sometimes helping even when it is not needed is a good idea. Even though it is not needed, it is appreciated. Helping people makes me feel good. It makes me feel like I have made a difference in the lives of the people that I have helped. After all, making a difference in that person’s life is the purpose of helping in the first place. A major part of a good life is setting goals for my life. I can’t have a good life without goals. And to set goals, I have to believe in myself. Even if I knew I wasn’t doing what everybody else was doing, I was doing the right thing. And because of that, I believe in myself. If I go through life saying that I can’t do it, then I won’t even try. But, if I go through life saying that I can do it, then I will try and become successful. Saying, “I can’t do it” means I don’t believe in myself. And if I don’t try I won’t get what I’m reaching for. So I always say with my head held high, that I can do it. I truly believe that with all of the things I have done and I’m doing now are very good. Helping people, respecting people, setting goals for myself, and believing in myself are the best things that I can be doing. I truly believe that doing these things will guide me through the path of a good life. |