Commentary by Calvin Thompson, 6th grade, Noblesville East Middle School
The NoblesvilleWORKS initiative is a campaign that will highlight a monthly “soft skill.” The campaign is comprised of work by Noblesville Schools administrators and counselors, the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce, Ivy Tech, Work One, Noblesville Economic Development, non-profit organizations and several local businesses. In a partnership with Current in Noblesville, students who are part of the NoblesvilleWORKS initiative will have their monthly essays published. December’s “soft skill” is Respect. For more, visit stayheregrowhere.com/Noblesville-Works/.
Admiration. Honor. Appreciation. There are many different ways people show respect. However, these three words best represent what respect means to me. I can respect a person, I can respect a thing, or I can respect an idea. Regardless of what I’m respecting, the underlying meaning of respect is to show admiration.
The person I show great respect for is my grandpa. I respect him because of his work ethic. When my mom was young, my grandpa held many jobs to give her and her siblings a good life. Whether he was patrolling the streets as a police officer, harvesting crops from his fields or driving a concrete truck from the quarry, he always put his family’s needs first.
Another thing I show great respect for is my health. I have been given one life and one body to live in. I choose to eat healthy, exercise and get enough rest. Also, I respect my body, so I don’t drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes or do drugs. I know if I don’t show this respect to my body, it could potentially be harmful.
Finally, I also show respect for the gift of freedom. Freedom has allowed me to do many different things. I respect freedom in the small sense of the word because I am allowed to go anywhere in my neighborhood and choose my own clothes to wear. In the larger sense of the word I honor freedom by being able to choose my own path in life, speak my own opinions, live within my own beliefs.
Admiration. Honor. Appreciation. These are all ways I would describe respect. Whether it’s my grandpa, my health or my freedom, I make sure that my actions and words show the most respect.
