Character

Back in September I was asked to give a speech at my high school that centered around making college related decisions. One central theme in the speech was character.

The C-Dub mission statement reads:

“[C-Dub] provides a rigorous liberal arts program guided by an ethos of excellence and compassion. Within a diverse learning community, we foster self-reliance, integrity, social responsibility, and humor, empowering our students to achieve their personal best in mind, body, and spirit.”

Excellence.

Compassion.

Self-reliance.

Integrity.

Social responsibility.

Humor.

When I read these words, what comes to mind is character. C-Dub’s mission is to build character.

What is character?

Well, according to H. Jackson Brown, Jr.:

“Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.”

So what does that mean?

Throughout high school C-Dub provides significant character educators. Between parents, coaches, and teachers, there is almost always someone looking, whether the students know it or not. When help is needed, or questionable decisions are made, these character educators are able to step in to provide guidance.

In a sense, character educators are like training wheels or a safety net for when a student loses their balance. Not only that, but they provide a helping hand to get someone back on their feet and moving again should they fall. It is through this process that C-Dub creates an environment that fosters character development.

How does this relate to college decisions?

In college the training wheels come off. 95% of a college student’s time will be spent with no one but their peers looking. In a sense, it’s huge open book/take home test that everyone has to take. Sure, a student can ask for another students help, except that each person is different and has their own test of character to take. On top of that, since every test is unique, the answers cannot be found in the back of any book.

Above everything else, I believe that C-Dub prepares students to deal with tests of character. In other words, C-Dub teaches students; excellence, compassion, self-reliance, integrity, social responsibility, and humor; for those times when no one is looking.

Why am I just now writing about this?

The short answer is because I’m sitting at home right now without cable or internet due to the current weather conditions in Washington and I figure that I mind as well write something in Word to post later…

The long answer…

I found myself thinking about what I had said in my speech a few months back when I was working out today. Specifically, in regards to the quote:

“Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.”

On most days, I work out alone. And by that I mean completely alone, with no one else around. While I like this for many reasons, one specific reason is that I am able to try new things and look like a complete idiot with no one watching… at least that’s what I’ve been telling myself.

When I think about it more, I believe that it comes down to two things. Failure and weakness. I, like many people, don’t try new things often for the reason that I am scared to fail or look weak in the presence of others. In regards to character, this raises the question:

Is character what we do when someone is looking?

To answer my own question, I don’t think it is. I think the answer in this case is that character is not being afraid of what other people might think should one fail or show weakness. In doing so, one is able to show character by not fearing judgment, and not being affected by the fact that someone may be watching.

I’m rambling…

To bring this full circle, I enjoy coaching at C-Dub. Be it the middle school baseball team, or helping out with off-season weightlifting for the football team. My coaching philosophy is to encourage the development of excellence, compassion, self-reliance, integrity, social responsibility (teamwork) and humor.

I hope to create an environment where failure and weakness are not only accepted, but welcomed, as they both play an important part in the development of character and athleticism.

To steal a line from Kanye:

“That that don’t kill me, can only make me stronger.”

One last thing…

Character development doesn’t end, and for that matter, nor does the open book test on it. For all the character I hope to develop in the students I coach, I will probably learn equally as much, if not more about my own. For that, I am thankful.

By the way... is anyone reading this?

-dunkie