Katie Donahue, Character Education Intern

Ethics Resource Center 2003
Katie Donahue

"Good character…is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece- by thought, choice, courage, and determination."- John Luther

I agree with the words of John Luther, and my belief that character can be built brought me to the Ethics Resource Center (ERC) as an intern in the Character Development Department for the summer of 2003. I believe that character is not inherent, but is learned and influenced by the world around us and by those that are a part of our lives. I find the possession of character priceless and necessary in every individual; the values that shape a strong character for individuals must be taught and demonstrated. Because of those beliefs I have chosen to work towards developing character in others around me.

I began working with character education in my high school, Lake Braddock Secondary School, three years ago by helping to start a Student Ethics Office. The Student Ethics Office serves as a liaison between the school's character education initiative and student involvement in the process. In the past three years, while still growing, the Student Ethics Office has served in many ways as a positive organization in promoting the school's chosen core values of commitment, respect, responsibility, and integrity. We began our efforts by visiting Lockheed Martin Corporation for ethics training anda presentation on how ethics is used in the business world.

To promote our values, the Student Ethics Office enlisted the graphic design class to create posters with the values, which were then voted upon by the student body, printed, and posted around the school as a sign of our commitment to our values and to character education. The Student Ethics Office also held sessions with members of various school clubs and organizations to rewrite our Code of Conduct to incorporate the core values.

We spread the message of character education by visiting local elementary schools and making presentations using scenarios, puzzles, and question and answer sessions that explained the values of Lake Braddock, and the importance of strong character in an academic life. We also hear weekly "Words of Wisdom" over the announcements and use MAXIMize the Moment™ in the classroom to keep the discussion of character and ethics in constant motion. The Student Ethics Office will continue its efforts this September, when every student will receive a value tag with a value and definition on one side and a quote representative of the value on the other. I am proud to have been involved in an organization that works towards a more ethical school environment.

My school has worked with the ERC for the past few years but I wasn't aware of their involvement in our character education program until the spring of my senior year. I met Katie Sutliff, the ERC's character development consultant, at an annual character awards ceremony. I shared with her my interest and past experience working with the Student Ethics Office and character education initiative at Lake Braddock. Together we created an ERC internship through which I could input my first-hand high school experience into the character education programs that the ERC produces.

I have had an incredible learning experience during my time at the ERC. I was able to contribute my perspective through writing MAXIMize the Moment™ lessons, and my experience by beginning work on a Student Ethics Office(SEO) manual. The SEO manual will be published by the ERC and offered to high school students and teachers interested in creating SEOs and Codes of Ethics for their schools.

My interest in ethics and character education expands beyond the school setting. I am very interested in the role of ethics in business and the ERC was helped me to further develop that interest. Other ERC staff members included me in data discussions, the Fellows meeting, and lectures on ethics in the workplace.

I had a great experience through the learning opportunities that were presented to me, as well as offering my own personal contribution for the benefit of the ERC. I know that my experience here was priceless and will serve me for many years to come. It has contributed to my interest and knowledge of business ethics and allowed me to play an integral role in developing character education programs that will be used in the future. I am looking forward to continued work with the ERC and hope to eventually work in business ethics, so this internship opportunity has given me a great start on my future career. I have found that ethics is my passion. I want to spend my life teaching others the importance of standing up for what you believe in and living a virtuous life.

Katie Donahue graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School (LBSS) in Virginia, an ERC Partner School since 2000, where she helped start a student ethics office three years ago. Ms. Donahue worked with the character education department this summer, contributing ideas to MAXIMize the Moment™ and other programs from a student's point of view, as well as beginning work on a Student Ethics Office manual. She started college at Mary Washington this fall.