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Bianca Rostran
Putting together my personal ethical framework was a little harder than I thought. My
first thought was: Well, does one really carry the same values all throughout their life?
Especially, when we live in a world where beliefs are constantly evolving and perspectives are
constantly changing. However, when I started to think deeply about my values, I started to think
about my family, my past experiences, culture, work experiences and religion. Quickly, four
things came to mind. Those four core values are: optimism, patience, integrity, and effort. The
acronym I have created for those values is OPIE. This unique acronym will help me remember
Integrity is a value that has been embedded in my family for quite some time now. My
parents taught my siblings and I the importance of being honest with others and most importantly
being honest with ourselves. My mom would always tell us that when we are honest and true to
ourselves, we eliminate the space to be false with anyone else. One thing my parents also did
was bring up the Universal Law of Attraction. This value has stuck by me since I was a child. I
am now a firm believer that we attract in our life the people and circumstances that are in
harmony with our main thoughts and values. Meaning, that everything in our life we have
attracted, because of the person we are. Many times, I have challenged this value. Especially
with being honest with myself. There are times when I want to take the easy way out, whether it
is with a goal, task, argument or job. What has helped me with this challenge is taking the time to
figure out what I really want in life. This has required some soul searching, asking myself those
tough questions and even experiencing some painful emotions that come up when faced with not
The second core value that I hold close to my heart is patience. This is a core value I have
treasured since I graduated high school. It all began when I noticed that my path to college was
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different from the paths my friends were taking. Many of my friends moved away to college,
while I had to stay and commute to school. My commuting situation had a lot to do with my
families finances, therefore, my experience was a bit more limited. So, as I saw my friends
making new friends, experiencing the dorm life and traveling abroad, I became jealous of their
experience. Deep down inside I wanted to be experiencing all those fun things too. Luckily,
around that time I had met my mentor Ruby. We would have long conversations about what I
really needed to place my focus on. She would constantly tell me that I was focusing on the
things I do not possess. She encouraged me to be patient with myself. That my time would come.
I took that advice very seriously. Even when something does not go my way, I know deep inside
that was God's plan for me. God does everything with a purpose. Therefore, I have put all my
trust in him. It has not been easy, but I know that he has a special plan for me. Her words of
advice have made realize the true blessing in my life, the things I took for granted. For that, I
Patience has allowed me to look at life from a different perspective. It has given me the
power to practice optimism, which is my second core value. My faith has also played a role in
the development of this value. One verse in the bible that has helped me throughout life is:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9). This verse has
given me the strength I need see the negative things in a positive way. I really appreciated
may seem from our point of view, is limited in its ability to comprehend the way and will of
God (Wilkens, 2011, p.201). Optimism has improved my emotional well-being; it has fostered
better relationships with my friends, family and partner. And it has even protected me from
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adverse events. I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. Like Wilkens mentioned,
our relationship with God includes mystery and awe (Wilkens, 2011, p.202). For some people
that could create fear, however for me it has created optimism and full trust in him. It has made
The last core value I cherish dearly is effort. This value speaks volumes to my life. Effort
by far has being one of the most challenging things for me to do, but also one of the most
rewarding. Many times in my life I have challenged to recognize why the choices I have made
matter, especially when things have gone wrong and all my effort seems to mean nothing.
However, what I have gotten out of my experiences of life are a direct reflection of the type of
effort I have put into it. My mom has always told me that many challenges will come my way.
That's a given. But I should always think about what effort I am willing to give to learn, grow,
evolve, practice and overcome. Those words of wisdoms have lifted me up even in my darkest
moments.
My values have shaped who I am today and have helped me chose the way I interact with
my students. Patience has been key to my Student Affairs career. Especially when working with
students and co-workers. Even in the toughest of times, I am able to be understanding and
sympathetic with people's needs, situations and circumstances. Working in higher education has
showed me that not everything that you do will have immediate results. Sometimes, you are just
planting the seeds to something better. My patience has allowed me to the see the better in
people. It also has given me the opportunity to see people grow and transition. My optimism has
given me the opportunity to believe in my students, even when it seems like we are running out
of options. My optimism has helped shed positivity even in the darkest moments. For that, I am
References
Wilkens, S. (2011). Beyond Bumper Sticker Ethics: An Introduction to the Theories of Right