Saint Mary's School of Sagada

Integrity. According to my dictionary it has three descriptions: 1. Soundness of moral principle and character; uprightness; honesty. 2. The state of being whole, entire, or undiminished. 3. Sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition.

In my experience of life, a person’s integrity is the most appealing of all human qualities. Their integrity allows me to know who they are, to trust them, to communicate with them and to like them.

Of the three definitions above, I like number 2 – ‘The state of being whole, entire, or undiminished.’ Every time you tell a lie, you are out of integrity. Every time you use your position to mock someone, or take advantage, or be mean, or whatever game you play with people, you are out of integrity. Every time you do not keep your word, every time you arrive late or not at all, every time you keep something that you borrowed, every time you break the rules, every time you steal, every time you throw trash on the ground, every time you make out to be someone that you are not, you are out of integrity.