How do values, virtues, and character relate to one another? Our morals/virtues and values tend to shape our character and who we are. What we value in life and the moral standards in which we were raised determines what we think is the right and wrong thing to do. Character, how we act and present ourselves is based upon what we believe is right and wrong. • How can we specifically encourage virtue in our communities, workplaces, and educational institutions?

• How do values, virtues, and character relate to one another? Our morals/virtues and values tend to shape our character and who we are. What we value in life and the moral standards in which we were raised determines what we think is the right and wrong thing to do. Character, how we act and present ourselves is based upon what we believe is right and wrong. • How can we specifically encourage virtue in our communities, workplaces, and educational institutions? The best way to encourage virtue in our communities, workplaces, and educational institutions is by leading by example. With the popularity of social media, little of what we do in public is solely visible by those around us, but rather the whole world. If we are “acting the fool” out in public, that is going to be captured, uploaded, and viewed thousands if not millions of times. Judgment to your character and how you were raised, as well as your virtues are going to be quickly judged. If we lead by example, doing the right things, presenting ourselves in the best ways possible, while not as quick to be uploaded, it does show those around us how we should treat each other/behave. Especially in the school setting–kids need to have positive influences and examples in their lives. Not all students have this at home, so they don’t really know what is socially acceptable, right/wrong, or the best action to take. It’s the educational system’s job to pick up where parents’ are lacking at times. It’s unfortunate, but reality. • What are the advantages of leading a moral life? There are several different advantages to leading a moral life. Those led by faith, whatever it might be, would believe that this would be to get them into heaven, or favor of God. While that does push me to live a moral life, there is a stronger force at play. Wanting everyone to have a positive experience when they enter my life is what drives me to do the right thing. In different settings and situations, doing the right thing will feel like the wrong thing to those with differing ideas of what is right. For example, suspending a student because they made a racial slur. I know that is wrong, and that all students deserve to belong, however, someone with a different background, who was raised to believe that is right views me as immoral or wrong. Does this mean I change the way I work with racial slurs, no. Does this mean my morals change, no. While that may create a negative interaction, it’s my hope that down the line, some positive can come from it–even if it’s just that I remained calm and fair. • How can we support people in cultivating their virtues? The best way to support people in cultivating their virtues would be to be present when needed and offer advice when asked. It’s important to allow them to go through what they need to, but to be there as a safety net when they ask for it. Pushing your virtues onto them while they are trying to grow/figure it out is the quickest way to lose trust and faith 3 3.3 Assignment: Leader2Leader Dialogue Question Preparation with those people. It’s a vulnerable place, and support is being there when needed, but not forcing your way in when not. • How do our characters change as time goes on? Experiences change our character as time goes on. The person I was in my 20s is not the person I am today. The person I was before losing my mom is not the person I am today. My values changed, thus my character changed. Some people, when going through hard times, can become jaded or shut down from the world around them. When I lost my mom I definitely went through a major change in character. It took me over a year to find myself again. Things I used to value were no longer important and others grew in importance. Interactions with those around us, both positive and negative can change your character. Wanting to be more or less like someone can change things within yourself. • How do our personalities affect the decisions we make? Our personalities definitely affect the decisions we make. I’m a naturally calm person–I wasn’t always. As an AP, I have to make a ton of split second decisions on a daily basis. My calm personality tends to see the world differently than the two bosses I’ve had while in this role. Both, while very different, tend to make knee jerk decisions because they are more reactionary than calm, and this often causes us to disagree in moments. Our personalities, pet peeves, loves/dislikes, all affect how we make decisions. In the lunchroom, noise does not bother me, but it does my boss. He tends to make decisions in the lunchroom because he’s irritated by the noise. I am able to ignore the little things because the noise doesn’t bother me. • What distinguishes personality from character? The biggest distinction between personality and character would be that your personality doesn’t change. It’s not shaped by what you believe, it’s who you are. Character is shaped by what you believe, and how you approach life. Personality is that no matter what you do, you’re that person. No matter what I do, I’m always going to be a calm person. It’s just who I am. I’ve never been one to blow up in a room–it takes A LOT to get me there. However, my character has been shaped by things I’ve gone through. • What obstacles must we overcome in order to lead moral lives? The biggest obstacle we must overcome in order to lead moral lives would be when we are faced with someone who disagrees or holds different morals. I hate making this political, but it’s the best example I can provide in this moment. Rather than picking a “sticky” moral debate like abortion, I’ll use gun control. I could debate that this is a moral decision–you either believe we all have the right to own any type of gun or you don’t. When your belief is strong on one side of the debate, it makes it very difficult to work with or be around those who disagree. I come from a family where I am alone in a lot of 4 3.3 Assignment: Leader2Leader Dialogue Question Preparation how I view what is right and wrong. My family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) all tend to lean one way, and I tend to lean the other. This creates some awkward moments when the conversation sways to one of these topics. That doesn’t mean I shut out my family and only make friends with those who believe the same things I do. It’s important we surround ourselves with differing opinions to either confirm or strengthen our own morals. • How can we get past these obstacles? I don’t believe we actually need to get past the obstacles but learn and grow from them. Getting past them seems like you just shove through and don’t give it another thought–which I feel is a very negative way to go about moral challenges. It’s like the racial example I gave earlier. If someone is ok with racial slurs, because that’s how they were raised, and they never experienced anything other than their inner circle, they don’t know anything different. By challenging our morals, we may learn something different or grow because we faced an obstacle.