CHARACTER COUNTS! in Fort Dodge: Words of Wisdom

A Project of the Institute for Character Development at Drake University

Words of Wisdom


Excerpts from Youth Character Award Essays


I look for others who appear lonely or left out and include them too.

– Morgan Border


My grandfather taught me to help out and not

expect anything in return. – Jayden Condon


I remember how helping someone else gave me courage to stand up to

bullies. – Claire Flemming


I want to continue to give to others because it

makes me feel good. – Josie Huss


You never know what people are going through

and how an easy thing can make them feel better.

– Rylee Kinney


When you stand up to a bully you never think of how thankful the person

you stood up for is. – Olivia Kolacia


Like Rachel said “Nobody knows how far a little

kindness can go.”– Milena Naughton


Popularity doesn’t matter; what matters is the

kindness and respect you give to people.

– Emma Neverman


When I do something good, I feel my heart open up.

– Josephine Perry


I think everyone needs to try and do one small kind thing for someone once a

day. – Amanda Richman


I try to set the example in class so we can become a

better class. – Jocelyn Timmerman


Little things I have done for others are…things I think everyone should do for

each other. – Grace Champagne


Helping at Oleson Park zoo made me feel really good.

– Jonathon Madden


Anyone who has ever performed an act of

kindness will tell you it is VERY addicting.

– Caleb Baker


I told a bully to be nice and be herself and she wasn’t

mean to me again.– Madelynn Gordon


I love helping others out. I think of it as a thank you

gift.– Jasmine Baguhn


My mom always tells me that “you’re only as good on the court as you are in

the classroom.”.– Dalton Summers


I introduced someone new to my friends and we all

became friends.– Nathanial Madden


Helping them made me feel like a good role model…I

started the chain reaction but want them to keep it going.

– Alaina Porter


I help people every chance I get; it makes me feel good

to help others.– Brianna Campbell


The act of kindness I choose to do on a daily

basis is smiling at someone and saying, “Hello.”

– Madelyn Sweeney


My mom told me to “care for her as if you’re the only friend that she has” and it

worked.– Jersey Summers


I thought about how I would feel and I knew I had to help the owner find their

lost dog!– Kathryn Cochrane


I deal with bullies by trying to talk to them.

– Kaydence Messerly


I help others by bringing a cat onto ABC5 tv to help

the cat get adopted.– Blake Davis


I had to help her and others, and cease bullying

in our school.– Alexis Stuhrenberg


Older members of 4H helped me so I want to do

the same for others.– Anna Lewandowski


4H has taught me the value in volunteering, and helping

others.– Justin Koester


I enjoy going to nursing homes and visiting with the

elderly.– Alisa Anderson


I felt like our delivery of food was a gift to that

family.– Cooper Duarte


I am not a very big person, but I was able to help all those people that were

cleaning up.– Ethan Eldridge


After helping him out, little by little I found out that he had good character in him.

– Jiho Han


Rachel’s Challenge helps build a joyful atmosphere in

school.– Lauren Harris


If we keep paying it forward will make our community a

nicer and more content place.

– Nichole Kane


I try to be a little ray of sunshine in other people’s lives; I know Rachel was.

– Abby Landwehr


I loved helping my teacher, it gave me a sense of

purpose and felt better than playing computer games.

– Molly Lennon


I believe you should always treat people the way you

want to be treated.– Brianna Luke


I will always remember that it is right to give back even

in the smallest ways.– Macey Mason


I have learned the importance of friendship,

how to be a good friend in a tough time.

– Natalie Nordstrom


Looking for the best in others can really help you

find a good friend.– Jacque Oberg


I can do big things by doing little things for others.

– Emma Pinkelman


I want to be grow into someone that isn’t afraid to be that one person who cares.

– Michelle Waller


We need to respect people, all people.– Hannah Zinnel


By helping at the animal shelter I learned a lot of

responsibility.– Matayan McLoughlin


I have followed Character Counts and I like how it

works.– Wesley Simms


The best thing Rachel taught me is forgive others

and yourself.– Danielle Chen


I told her she should try to make everyone happy and

not be mean so she can have friends.

– Mary Perez


I’ve accepted Rachel’s Challenge by talking to people and being nice.

– Izaih Clark


I told a bully he could talk to me and I was glad I

could help him out.– Jesse Francis


I learned that if you are kind you might not be

everyone’s friends.– Christyn Nichols


I am happy that I was able to make a difference in

someone’s life.– Taylor Hartley


Your character reflects your future. I compliment someone every day.

– Hannah Wadle


I help a lot more after I went to Rachel’s Challenge

and I don’t take anything for granted.

– Makla Naylor


Remember God is always watching!

– Cole Savery


Ever since I got brave and told my teacher I was

bullied it helped me with a lot of things like my grades.

– Maria Martinez


I showed people that it doesn’t matter what they

look like but only who they are inside.– Malory McCarthy


Even though bad things happen you need to keep

going.– Justin Vaughan


I will use what I learned at Rachel’s Challenge my

entire life.– Haley Ledford


Volunteer work has shown me that it helps people and

it is fun.– Christian Lundberg


I won’t always have someone telling me what to

do and I need to be a leader on my own.

– Brooklin Border


Whenever I see bullying I stand up to the bully.

– Olivia Carlson


Rachel’s Challenge made me more confident to do the right thing even if it is

hard.– Emma Gruver


It only takes 26 muscles to smile and 62 to frown.

Which do you pick?– Meghan Hanley


Lessons of kindness can come from anywhere.

– Emma Hergenreter


I’m in love with helping others.

– Audrey Kolacia


Acts of kindness can change a person’s day or

life.– Riley Mayer


Knowing I helped someone is one of my best

achievements in life.– Maddie Nemmers


To me, your kindness shapes your reputation.

– Hannah Reynoso


It’s not about being popular but about having

the biggest heart.– Jake Szalat


That simple act of kindness brought happiness to my

the entire grade.– Charlie Doyle


I’ve accepted Rachel’s Challenge by standing up to a bully and caring for

others.– Shaye Lankford


I believe everyone should feel loved and important –that they have a place in

this world.– Meagan Hartman


My random acts of kindness were nothing

more that what my mother would call manners.

– Ashlee Grady


I try to reach my full potential and encourage others to reach theirs by

volunteering.– Luke Lewandowski


If everyone smiled more and was kinder more, the whole world would be a lot

better.– Collin Harris


Kindness is one of the many great gifts we have in

our lives.– James Kane


Helping others has brought me joy and someday I may be the one who needs help.

– Conlin Lundberg


Kindness makes the whole world go round.

– Jaclyn Taylor


All of my actions had a positive impact on people I

helped.– Trent Woodhouse


When I volunteer I hope others will see me and do

the same.– Mercedes Loehr


Words hurt. Be a friend instead. Be the example

Rachel was.– Anna Bruen


Everybody is important no matter what anybody says.

– Ashlee Lansman


I realized how much of an impact somebody can have

on everybody.– Thomas Schumack


But the best way to get back at someone is to

smile and act like it doesn’t effect you. – Lily Peterson


I don’t think that they realize how much a small hug or smile can mean.

– Autumn Baedke


I noticed lots of students sit alone during school. I

decided to do something about it. – Leah Cosgrove


I have seen what rumors can do and if there was a rumor

about me I don’t know what I would do.

– Bailey Florey


I was reminded how even a simple gesture can go a

long way. – Jacob Lewandowski


I learned that if you can make just one person’s day better then your day was a

success. – Ryan Szalat


When I help others I feel accomplished.

– Michael Faiferlick


Everyone should feel important everyday

of their lives. – Jaci Stumpf


When people think of me, I would like kindness to

come to mind. – Jaci Brungardt


Happiness is contagious. – Lauren Moeding


Donating blood makes a difference for others.

– Cassie Stumpf


Leading others helped me understand what we can

accomplish when we become one. – Shelby Portz


I ask myself, “How did I make the world a better

place today?” – Casey McEvoy


Make the most of what you have and appreciate it.

– Jazmine Myers


Rachel’s Challenge was a strong eye opener for our

commuity. – McKenzie Flaherty


I just try to be myself and accept others for who they are.

– Lane Florey


My service trip was a life changing experience.

– Ellen Chalstrom


I realized how important it is to not give up on

anything that you do. – Aaron Chalstrom


When you think about it, kindness is a selfish act – we usually get more back than we give. – Katy Bocken

Documents

CHARACTER COUNTS! in Fort Dodge: Words of Wisdom