1. C HARACTERISTICS

3. S IX P ILLARS OF C HARACTER

4. T RUSTWORTHINESS Be honest. Don’t deceive, cheat or steal. Be reliable – do what you say you’ll do. Have the courage to do the right thing. Build a good reputation. Be loyal – stand by your family, friends and country.

5. R ESPECT Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule. Be tolerant of differences. Use good manners, not bad language. Be considerate of the feelings of others. Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone. Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements.

6. R ESPONSIBILITY Do what you are supposed to do. Persevere: keep on trying! Always do your best. Use self-control. Be self-disciplined. Think before you act – consider the consequences. Be accountable for your choices.

7. F AIRNESS Play by the rules. Take turns and share. Be open-minded; listen to others. Don’t take advantage of others. Don’t blame others carelessly.

8. C ARING Be kind. Be compassionate and show you care. Express gratitude. Forgive others. Help people in need.

9. C ITIZENSHIP Do your share to make your school and community better. Cooperate. Stay informed; vote. Be a good neighbor. Obey laws and rules. Respect authority. Protect the environment.

10. T R R F C C Students can use this acronym to help them remember that people with good character are terrific : T rustworthiness R espect R esponsibility F airness C aring C itizenship

11. Trustworthiness : blue Think "true blue" Respect : yellow/gold Think the Golden Rule Responsibility : green Think being responsible for a garden or finances; or as in being solid and reliable like an oak Fairness : orange Think of dividing an orange into equal sections to share fairly with friends Caring : red Think of a heart Citizenship : purple Think regal purple as representing a state

12. R OLE M ODELS Role Models-a person who others look up to and admire. Traits of positive role models. Has a good sense of self-esteem. Handles stress positively. Are trustworthy. Has perserverance. Respects others.

13. How to choose a role model Choose someone who has a lot of confidence in themselves and their abilities. Consider someone who thinks it is alright to be unique; even if that means accepting some ridicule. Think about someone who interacts well with others’, and someone who is kind and can communicate well with people. Look for someone who is living life the way you would like to. Find someone who doesn’t always take credit for what they do. Choose a role model who may have done something you find admirable.

14. R EFUSAL S KILLS Purpose of refusal skills-When your friends are persuading you to do something that is trouble or uncomfortable for you.

15. REFUSAL SKILLS: 1. Delay: You may not need this one every time, but it is helpful to know. 2. Ask Questions: Be sure you know what someone is wanting you to do. 3. Name the Trouble: Tell them that this is something you don’t want to do and why. 4. Name the Consequences: What could happen if you went against your better judgment? 5. Suggest Realistic Alternatives: Suggest something fun and safe to do. 6. Move On: Get yourself out of this situation.

16. W AYS TO S AY NO! Several methods of saying NO work for different people. Suppose someone tries to pressure you to use drugs by saying - "Come on, try it! What's the matter, are you chicken?" You could: Switch topics Use humor State the facts Come up with another idea Walk away Use an excuse Challenge the speaker Turn the tables Don't pay any attention Be polite