Blast! Personal Best

Last updated over 2 years ago

6 questions

Note from the author:

This is Blast adapted from the StudySync Curriculum for The 8th Grade Unit on Moral Character

Picture yourself running a mile. You are closing in on the final lap. You are achy and breathing heavily. Nevertheless, you keep going. When you cross the finish line, you realize you ran a faster mile than ever before. How did you achieve your personal best?

With running, it is easier to reach your personal best if you have a few specific qualities. First, you need to be physically fit. You have to build your muscles so you are capable of running faster and harder. You also have to take consistent strides. You need to find the right pace for you. Finally, you have to be able to persevere. You must have the mental strength to keep going, even when your body tells you to quit.

Achieving your personal best in life is a lot like achieving your personal best in running. You need to have certain qualities. These are called character traits. They can help you make and maintain relationships, succeed in school and achieve your goals.

What are some examples of character traits? Some of them have to do with relationships and the way you act with other people. Respect and kindness, for example, are character traits that can help you form strong friendships. Honesty and forgiveness are character traits that can help you work through disagreements.

Other character traits have to do with your personal success. Creativity and curiosity can help you find new ways to solve problems. Teamwork, fairness and leadership can help you complete group projects.

Some people say that your character is more important than talent. Talent may help you do something well, but character makes you a good person. Talent may help you get things done, but character helps you do the right thing. Talent can get you great opportunities, but character drives you to push through the hardest times in life. Sue Bird, a WNBA player, once did an interview with Sports Illustrated magazine about character. “Obviously, anybody can play great when they go out there and all the shots are going in and every pass they make is amazing,” she said. Bird says that it is more impressive when a game is not going well and you can still give it your best effort. “That’s when you really separate yourself,” Bird said.

What do you think? What is character? What character traits do you see in yourself? What traits do you see in people you admire? What qualities of character matter most?

Required

What does it mean to persevere?

Required

What are some of your character traits?

Required

What does success look like to you?

Required

What character traits do you want?

Required

Of the following qualities of character, which do you think is the most important? (just pick one, please)

Required

Blast! Personal Best

What does it mean to persevere?

What are some of your character traits?

What does success look like to you?

What character traits do you want?

Of the following qualities of character, which do you think is the most important? (just pick one, please)

What do you think? What qualities of character matter most?