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Character & Leadership (Beta)

CL8.1.i. Forgiveness

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Students recognize that resentments, regrets, and grudges diminish their ability to enjoy their lives and can prevent them from moving forward. They demonstrate the ability to forgive others and to let go of negative feelings so they can get on with their lives.

CL8.1.h. Gratitude

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Students demonstrate the trait of gratitude by consistently appreciating and expressing thanks for the good things in their lives (i.e., they count their blessings). They invariably and graciously express gratitude for gifts, favors, compliments, and services received. (While positive people see the glass as half full, grateful people are thankful for the half they have rather than resentful about the half they don’t).

CL8.1.g. Positivity

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Students demonstrate the trait of positivity by choosing to be optimistic, enthusiastic, hopeful, and cheerful. Students sustain their positive outlook based on the following beliefs: 1) Positive attitudes produce positive results — positive people are more likely to achieve their goals, feel successful, have good relationships, have better health, and live longer than those with negative outlooks. 2) Happiness is a state of mind, not a circumstance or fact (i.e., if they think they are happy, they are) and that, as Shakespeare’s Hamlet says, “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” 3) There are positive aspects (i.e., the silver lining) in all experiences. One can characterize any experience in terms of its positive aspects (e.g., after a fire destroying most of his possessions, a positive person can feel genuinely fortunate and grateful that no one was hurt).

CL8.1.f. Self-motivation and action

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Students demonstrate the ability to motivate themselves to begin a task and to independently generate ideas, responses, and problem-solving strategies. 1) Students understand that there can be no success without action and that they must be bold, proactive, and decisive in the pursuit of their plans, goals, dreams, and responsibilities. 2) Students do not procrastinate.

CL8.1.e. Self-confidence

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Students demonstrate confidence in their abilities and inner strength to succeed and endure difficulties, failures, and other forms of adversity. In social situations they are assertive and willing to state their opinions despite the risk of disapproval, criticism, or rejection.