There is a disturbing trend I have noticed in my time at APU. Since my sophomore year, I have seen or been aware of many student leaders who do not live according to the contracts they sign. I have come to realize that I have little to no patience for this. I cannot respect the people who choose to engage in public drinking, sexual intercourse, or even tobacco use.
A little background info: Strengths Finder is big on my campus, and I think part of my stance on this subject can be informed through a look at one of my top strengths.
My Responsibility strength is the basis for the component of my philosophy dealing with adherence to duty. This strength leads me to believe that roles should only be taken when someone can say that they will fulfill all required duties. For example, I have almost no tolerance for those student leaders who violate stipulations of the Student Leadership Contract.
All student leaders willingly sign the contract, which states that students will not engage in sexual activities, consume alcohol, or break any other student code of conduct. However, I am personally aware of a few cases, and have heard of numerous occasions where student leaders fail to adhere to the contract’s conditions.
These cases both break my heart and anger me. I am pained because of the loss of influence that comes with the loss of integrity. A student leader defuses their ability to be a presence and a voice when they openly engage in violations. They forfeit both their integrity and their influence, and I believe this is a universal principle for all leaders. Violating duties, and engaging in hypocritical acts undermines one’s own integrity, and their ability to positively influence others.
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