Karya Ilmiah 2

Character Building

First of all, you have to understand the meaning of character. It is the total of traits and qualities that will define a certain individual or group of people. It describes the ethical and moral strength of the individual, as well as attributes and abilities that will ultimately correspond to their life choices. Character defines the person and his or her actions, with the possibility of these being positive on how to become a better you. Character is closely related to integrity, which is defined as consistent adherence to strict moral or ethical code. People who have integrity can be defined as complete, unimpaired and sound. Integrity, as a whole, can be defined as performing the right things for the right reasons, regardless of the conditions and circumstances.

So Character building is experiences which teach you some of life's lessons; lessons like keep your word, pay attention, don't run with sharp objects. Many character building experiences hurt and may contain a "significant emotional experience". With a little good luck, you will live through them and be a better person.

The characters buiding are divided into several sections such as:

ü Trustworthiness

Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, and country

ü Respect

Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements

ü Responsibility

Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others

ü Fairness

Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly

ü Caring

Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need

ü Citizenship

Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer

If you want to build good character, you have to select as set of principles and rules that you will abide by for the rest of your life. The actions you take to follow these guidelines will ultimately lead to a happy and contented life, which in turn, will reflect your positivity and support toward creating a better world and environment for everyone. You can effectively follow the ethics of a certain group or religion. You can also develop your own ideals, based on your beliefs, experiences and personal opinions.

And you can determine whether a principle is effective for your personal growth and character if you find meaning or a certain level of success in your actions. You should be able to say that you are the person you are today, because of actions and choices you made in the past. Try to assess and list down turning points in your life wherein you had to make a major decision that led you to develop new abilities, morals and virtues on how to become a better you.Consider how the choice you made in the past turned you into a completely new person. If you feel regret or would want to change things if you only could, then you may not find that certain virtue helpful. However, if you realize that you have become stronger because of a hard choice in the past, then you will find that the trait is needed to complete your good character.

Then you can also find someone as a model. Some individuals aim to become truly credible and build character like other great successful people by trying to follow certain examples and lifestyles. You can rely on a mentor or role model whom you can effectively relate to. This figure may be a family member, an author or a leader in your neighborhood. Take note that every person has strengths and weaknesses. When looking for a role model, you should also remember some of the person’s own shortcomings. This way, you can mold yourself to following the good examples and making sure that you do not commit the same limitations and mistakes.

But you must remember one thing, and this really important for your progress. The process of building character might will take several of years. You should be more patient when looking for personal changes, as some may also alter over time, depending on other circumstances that occur in your life. There are plenty of reasons why people will adjust their traits and personality, so you should just look on the models, do what you've learned in any situation and keep aiming for the ultimate goal of becoming truly a person of integrity.  

 Jolinda Amoreka