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MAXIMize the Moment Volume 1, Issue 27

MAXIMize the Moment Volume 1, Issue 27

April 29, 2002
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MAXIMize the Moment

Now it's time to MAXIMize the Moment!

"Oh, Maggie, you look just beautiful!" my mother says. She's used an entire roll of film in the last twenty minutes. Even though the limo is waiting outside, I'm not sure we'll ever make it to the dance.

Finally, Chad and I are able to pull ourselves away. As the limo pulls away from the driveway, I hear my mom's voice trailing after us: "Have fun at the dance! Don't forget to call when you get to the Thomas's house."

Chad looks really surprised. He says, "Your parents are a lot cooler than mine. There's no way that I would have told them that I was spending the night at Christi's beach house. They would have totally wigged."

"Well," I respond, "They asked where I was going and I told them. Of course, they never thought to ask if there'd be alcohol there, so it's not like I'm lying. Besides, no one is going to be drinking and driving so there's nothing to worry about."

The dance ends up being great. All my friends look beautiful, Chad is a great date, and even the DJ is good.

The party at Christi's turns out to be even more fun.

Until the cops show up. Apparently, the family across the street decided to visit their summer home a little early this year and we were too loud. A bunch of us get tickets. We'll have to report to court with a parents. We'll probably end up with probation and community service hours. And I'll be grounded for longer than I care to think about.

I knew tonight was going to be a night to remember. I just imagined that it would be for other reasons. I wish I could just take all this back. My parents even offered to have everybody come to our house. My older brother, Tom, was home from college and he offered me some unsolicited brotherly advice, "You should do that. You'd probably have a lot of fun. And, if there's one thing I learned from my experiences on Prom Night, it's 'Do not do what you would undo if caught.'"

Was he ever right!

This week's maxim is "Do not do what you would undo if caught."

Teacher Information

Maxim

  • "Do not do what you would undo if caught."
    Leah Arendt

Featured character trait

  • Integrity-I live out my values in a genuine way, so others can trust me and my promises.

Character points (for substitution if this week's trait isn't one of your school's core values)

  • Honesty-I am a truthful person, in both my words and actions. I recognize that honesty requires telling the truth, not merely the avoidance of lies and deceit.
  • Truthfulness-I am honest in my words and actions. I recognize that real honesty is not just about not lying, but also requires that I be forthcoming, not deceptive.
  • Trustworthiness-I live in an honest and forthright way so people can believe in my word and rely on my promises.
  • Respect - I do what is best for myself and others; I acknowledge the innate worth of myself and others and treat people accordingly.
  • Responsibility - I know which behaviors must be avoided, what obligations I have, and those things that I should do; I act upon that knowledge.

Discussion starters / journal writing prompts

  • Was the main character in today's story honest with her parents? Why or why not?
  • What would you do if you were the parents in this situation, and your child got arrested?
  • What does it mean to be an honest person?
  • Is it possible to be dishonest without lying?
  • Is it possible to lie without being dishonest?
  • Is trustworthiness really only about telling the truth?
  • Which is more important: to always tell the truth or to always live honestly? Why?
  • What are the benefits of being a truthful person?
  • People consistently say that honesty is one of the traits they value most in themselves and other. So, why aren't more people honest?
  • What makes it difficult to consistently be honest and forthright?
  • How important is it to you that your friends, boy/girlfriends, teachers, parents, etc. are honest with you?
  • Do you agree with today's maxim? Why or why not?
  • Are potentially negative consequences the only reasons to avoid doing the wrong thing?
  • What are some reasons that it is important to avoid doing the wrong thing even if you never get caught?
  • What are some reasons to do the right thing-even if no one else will ever know?

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