1. Do you hear yourself telling people: " I have my own values and principles. They should be respected under all kinds of circumstances.", or something similar?
If so, what would you say when someone laughs at you for never skipping classes?
If not, why could be the reasons?
It’s always not easy to keep one’s own principles, for there are too many voices around which force one to adjust to the community. For me, however, I often tell my friends that I have my own standards in doing things, even though they always think of me as a person who was as obstinate as a mule and it is just too hard to change what I have set myself to do. For instance, I always get a tight schedule, and I always say no when my friends ask me to go out. So one day they tell me, “You are a perfect girl except your insisting on following your own timetable.” I prefer to do things in my own way because that makes me feel more comfortable, but that is not to say I cannot accept others suggestions. I will adopt others’ opinions when I think the suggestions are good and will not waste time. Therefore, when someone laughs at me for never skipping classes, perhaps I will simply reply to the question that I prefer doing this way. I’m not going to say anything to try to describe my decision as if I am eager for understanding. I think I have to be responsible to the courses I choose. As a college student, I should decide for myself instead of blindly following others. Thus I can pursue what I really desire in life.
2. Do you believe everything people tell you? Why or why not?
For instance, when your friend tells you that working as a part-time waiter in a fancy restaurant will get you a lot of money, how would you respond?
I do not believe everything people tell me because the information is only for reference. It is I myself who should distinguish the truth from false in the words people say. For me, it is important to cultivate the ability to analyze the truth of things by one’s self since no one will always intend to be helpful after stepping into the society. Therefore, if my friend tells me that working as a part-time waiter in a fancy restaurant will get me a lot of money, I will ask why it is so profitable and how the working environment is. I will be deliberating upon the details and then decide whether I should believe it or not.
