A Promise to Uphold Integrity

Time:2011-12-21 08:44:55 Clicks:

“Wisdom will be wasted without determination and resolution; goals will never be accomplished without integrity and honesty” — Mozi

Since ancient times, integrity has been tied with examinations. As students, we are familiar with the saying: “Act honestly; be honest in examinations.” To keep our promise to be honest is our solemn commitment. It is also a basic ethical requirement.

It is said that there are only two things in the world that can truly touch people: the starry sky above us, and being highly principled. Some of those moral codes that were once etched on our hearts, now need to be revisited. One of these is integrity. Confucius once said: ”Without truthfulness, one can do nothing.” It is clear for Confucius that gaining the trust of his people is more important than anything else. This applies to governing the country as it does to other things. If we cannot gain the trust of others, we can do nothing, however big or small. Trust is mutual. To gain the trust of others, we should start by being credible ourselves. Integrity is the basic requirement.

As Molière said: ”It is more important for one to keep his promise than to keep his wealth.” A promise is weightier than one thousand bars of gold. One who keeps his promise is much more respectable than one with great wealth. Integrity is the hallmark of a man, and is a principle which requires that we spend our whole lives to demonstrate.

I can still remember the time when we took the college entrance examination. To pursue our dreams, we had to face the first challenge that was to change our lives. Integrity is always in my mind, and this important examination brought home its significance. To be honest in examinations is more than a commitment; it can also put yourself at ease so that you can achieve your potentials. If you had never kept the word “integrity” in mind, but instead hoped to win by a fluke, then you would have failed before the examination started.

Integrity is an indispensable part of humanity, both in times of war and in times of peace. In times of peace, it is even more essential to always remember this ethical value. As university students, we have been through years of study, and examinations are like our shadows, following us year in, year out. Dealing with examinations has become one of our essential abilities, but we seem to forget about our pursuit of integrity in the various examinations.

Not only are there examinations in universities, they are everywhere in our society. It was reported that nobody present helped the eighty-year-old woman when she fell to the ground. Society was testing those bystanders. Isn’t their wait-and-see attitude that of a general response to society’s test? Mutual trust among people is slacking. The awareness for integrity is weakening, or even lost.

On campus, promoting honesty in examinations should start with ourselves right now, to study diligently and to be honest during examinations. Knowledge accumulates and should not be crammed. Let us create an atmosphere of honesty in examinations, and denounce cheating in examinations. Let us uphold the dignity of knowledge. Let us give a satisfactory answer to our parents and teachers, with real knowledge, strong will and our quest for truth.

Besides, life is also an examination - an all-round examination. Even though you pass your academic studies, you may still fail in your work. Integrity is essential not only for examinations, it should be one of life’s yardsticks. Let us not forget to keep the promise on integrity, and be proud to be a student of JUFE International School!