Principles by Ethan

Principles by Ethan - August 2017 Scholarship Essay

Principles are the rules or guidelines which influence how people live their lives and conduct themselves both as individuals and as part of society. In business, principles are expressed in the company’s mission statement and corporate culture. In government, principles are melded into laws which regulate society, enforce rights and solve conflicts. In everyday interactions, principals guide individuals to do what is right and just.

Principles are important to my life because they guide my interactions with everyone. Although I believe in countless principles, the three most important to me are the Golden Rule, goal setting, and hard work. For as far back as I can remember my mother advised me to treat others the way I would like to be treated. I’m sure that I am not the only child who heard the Golden Rule growing up, but it made a lasting impression on me. From that one overarching principle stems kindness, patience, and empathy – the ability to put myself in other people’s shoes.

From my father I learned the second most important principle - goal setting. Every year Dad and I would outline my main goals for the year and how to go about accomplishing them. Throughout my childhood, this focus on goals has helped me achieve many things such as becoming the best twelve year old travel soccer player on my team, earning my Eagle Scout at fourteen, and ranking first in my freshman class. At 17 years old, I still take part in the tradition every year. I firmly believe that it made me who I am today, and will continue to make me a better person.

The third most important principle is hard work. One of my favorite quotes is by Thomas Jefferson-“I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.”