January 13, 2012
Virtues of the Human Heart and Spirit
The Virtue of Diligence
Scott Whitehouse, a theology teacher at Mater Dei High School in Evansville, engaged his senior students in a project, assigning them to write essays on the “Virtues of the Human Heart and Spirit.”
The assignment included the guidance to “write a one page essay on the merits of the value assigned and offering suggestions on ways that value can be developed to enhance a person’s daily life.”
Students were free to include their own opinions and to challenge the readers to live in accord with the virtue.
Essays have been submitted to the Message on chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness and humility. Selected essays will be published on an occasional basis in the Message.
Adam Knapp
Diligence is one of the seven cardinal virtues. Diligence is an important virtue to practice. People use this virtue every day throughout their lives. Children apply it to their homework, teenagers apply it to their new jobs and higher studies, and adults apply it to their careers. Diligence does not only mean hard work it also means to uphold ones convictions, morals and beliefs at all times. Diligence, like all virtues, is hard to practice all the time. Most people, including myself, give into the vice of diligence, which is sloth. Sloth is one of the seven deadly sins and is regarded as one of the most dangerous sins because if people give into sloth there would be no production of food, clothing or anything else that we regard as a form of civilized technology. So it is important to practice diligence to keep ourselves from becoming unproductive. I had a big problem with this virtue in my early high school years. The problem was that I didn’t complete my homework. I kept putting my homework off until the last day and I failed to complete the assignment. It hurt my grades and my self- confidence in that I knew I could have done much better than I did. I still have an issue with practicing diligence, but I am working to control it. My advice to those who think that diligence is old and not worthwhile is to think about what would happen if you stopped doing your job or stopped going to school; it would definitely affect your present and future condition. Not having money or a good education would certainly affect your future.
Benjamin Barchet
Diligence is one virtue that will take anybody where they want to be in life. Although seven virtues are equally important, diligence has the ability to take a person above and beyond anything he or she ever imagined. Diligence is merely having a zealous nature in one’s work or simply the capability of not giving up, but in a world in the economic state that is before us now, diligence is a necessity. Diligence is important to the youth of today because although it does not necessarily mean you will have a job, diligence gives one the ability to persevere and never quit looking. Sooner or later, a person who has persevered will eventually find work, and if hired, a diligent employee is much more likely to be promoted than one who is lazy. In my personal experience working at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanical Gardens, having fortitude in my work earned me the respect of my co-workers and even a pay raise by the end of the summer. Many young adults see being diligent as being stubborn or old fashioned. This is because they do not see the long term. Being meticulous will cause a person to have great integrity and along with that will come respect and admiration. Although many young Americans see this as being “old fashioned,” I say that nothing ever was accomplished by people who sat and watched the world pass them by. The people best remembered are those who fought for what they believed in and wouldn”t give up until they got what they wanted. In order to achieve diligence one must have a strong belief in something. As Sylvester Stallone told us in Rambo “Live for something, or die for nothing.”
Austin Kennedy
. . . I can model this virtue in several different ways. Obviously I can show effort in my school work and when doing chores at home, but I can also be diligent in my faith. For example, I can attend church every Sunday and actively participate in Mass.
Sarah Kelley
“All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy; but all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul.” This line from the popular song by Casting Crowns is the perfect example of what diligence really means. Diligence is not just being diligent and persistent in our every day life, but being diligent in our faith as well. Diligence is a virtue that people can work to improve every second of every day. By having a good work ethic and keeping up with the stress of everyday life, people can learn to be diligent human beings. Most teenagers today fall victim to sloth, the vice of this virtue. It is much easier after a stressful day of school to walk in the house and plop down in front of the TV instead of getting started right away on homework or chores. Diligence is important to the youth of today because it keeps them motivated and focused on whatever goals they set. It keeps teens strong in their faith and focused on the important thing in life: being a child of God. I personally struggle with this virtue. spend countless hours in front of the internet and the TV when I could be doing productive and meaningful activities. I am so caught up in the fads of the time that I forget to do my chores and more important, forget to keep God at the center of my life. I put superficial things in front of prayer, and wish Sunday Mass would be shorter on the weekends. Virtues have nothing to do with being “old fashioned.” They are still a major part of being the best possible version of oneself. While it is important to be diligent in the every day circumstance, one must remember to stay diligent in one’s prayer life as well because without God, there is nothing.
Emily Naas
. . . Math has never been my strong class and this year it is even harder. In order to do well, I found out I had to bring home my math book every night and go over the notes and do different problems for practice . . . . I have learned that working hard eventually pays off because ever since I have been studying every night, I have done well in class.
Kendal Weaver
. . . Mater Dei is know for a lot of things, but one of its biggest reputations is for sports. Without each student having diligence, it wouldn’t be a true team. Even when you’re down, you can’t give up.
Adam Weinzapfel
. . . Good role models could be athletes or professors. Anyone great got to where they are because of their diligence and persistence and by not slacking off or taking the easy way out.