MAXIMize the Moment Volume 1, Issue 8

Now it's time to MAXIMize the Moment!

I love early dismissal days! Classes are so short and everything is sorta crazy. Not to mention the fact that we have the whole afternoon off!

"Hey, Joel," I hear Shawn shout as he walks down the hall towards me. "You coming by my house afterschool?" he asks. Whenever we have early out days, we all head over to Shawn's. His parents are never home, so we have his whole house to ourselves.

At Shawn's, someone immediately assembles the traditional punch which is made from a random assortment of fruit juices from the fridge and various items from Shawn's dad's liquor cabinet.

Shawn's little sister, Ginny, has also invited over some friends. They're really giggly and can be fairly annoying when they're together, although a couple of them are okay to talk to individually.

A little while into the party, Ginny's friend, Emma, comes up to me. For the last few weeks, it's been pretty obvious that Emma's had a crush on me. I've always thought it was kind of sweet, but, right now, there's nothing sweet about her. Clearly, she's had a fair amount of punch. She's got a starry look in her eyes and she's punctuating every sentence by touching my arm.

Finally she comes out with "You know, Joel, I really like you. And I know that you'd like me, too, if only you got to know the real me. Why don't we got up to Shawn's room and talk?" From the way that Emma is continuing to caress my arm, it's pretty clear that we wouldn't be just talking for long.

Emma is being pretty convincing. And I don't get offers like this everyday.

What should I do? I wish that I wasn't feeling so out of it. If I were sober right now, I wouldn't even consider this. It wouldn't be an option. But, now, it's so much harder to say, "No"—even to something I know is wrong.

If she turns out to be someone cool, I wouldn't want it to start out like this. And I definitely don't want to be someone who'd totally use some drunk girl.

My father always reminds me that "Character is the sum and total of a person's choices." Before today, I always thought that meant that I should be hard-working, that I shouldn't steal or cheat. Right now, I realize it's about the fact that, if I still had my wits about me, I wouldn't even consider going upstairs with Emma. Now I have to choose to either take a step back in the right direction or walk up those stairs with Emma and further away from the person I want to be.

I know what I have to do. "Emma, you really do seem like a nice girl, but I don't think that's the best way for me to get to know the real you. Neither of us are totally in control right now and I don't want something to happen that we'd regret. I would still like to hang out with you and get to know you, but I think staying down here is a better idea."

After I say this Emma seems more relieved than disappointed. I doubt either of us are proud of all our behavior today. I am glad, though, that I ended up making one good decision. Hopefully, next time I'll be a man of character from start to finish--because "Character is the sum and total of a person's choices."

This week's maxim is "Character is the sum and total of a person's choices."

Teacher Information

Maxim

• "Character is the sum and total of a person's choices."
  P.B. Fitzwater

Featured character trait

• Integrity — I live out my values in all areas of my life so other can rely upon and trust me. Character points (for substitution if this week's trait isn't one of your school's core values)
• Honor — I recognize the difference between right and wrong and, as result, treat myself and others with respect.
• 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.
• Self-control — I have the strength to make difficult, even unpleasant, choices; I stay cognizant of and focused on my goals and my ideals.

Discussion starters / journal writing prompts

• What are the issues in this story?
• How realistic are they?
• At which points in the story was Joel making decisions about his character?
• Why did Joel choose to say "no" to Emma's offer?
• Why was it important for Joel that he and Emma not start out any potential relationship in that way?
• Why was it important for Joel that he say "no"? How would saying "yes" have affected his relationship with himself?
• How different would this scenario have been if Joel had made the decision not to drink in the first place?
• What do you think of Emma? What lesson do you think she would/should have learned from this incident?
• Is Joel a person of "integrity"? Why or why not?
• Is Emma a person of "integrity"?