Virtue

1. Thinking of others is a way we can be kind.
2. Virtue is an act of compassion and selflessness that helps people.

Conclusion: Thinking of others, acting selflessly, and compassionately helps people.

I realized there was true virtue in the world when I was able to see that there was at least one person that wanted to do right because it was the right thing to do. I mostly saw it when people acted in connection with “doing the right thing.” The right thing was always something that left the virtue-haver with nothing to gain, and gave back to someone who may have been in need.

My story was about an acquaintance I had back in high school, who I won’t name. I had one class with her, and all I knew about her was that she seemed sweet. It was my Driver’s Ed class, and I needed to bring twenty dollars for a handbook. I didn’t have a job, and I obviously couldn’t drive, so I needed this book for the class. I ended up putting the money in my sweater pocket and not my wallet. That ended in chaos when I came home and had to tell my parents that I lost twenty of their dollars. The next day, this classmate of mine noticed I was distressed, and she asked me what was going on. I gave her the rundown, and she perked right up and opened her pecil bag, giving my back my twenty dollars, which was all folded up nicely. She kept it in case someone said that they had lost it, and she gave it back to me.

I realized that not only did her parents need to be proud, but that she easily could have taken that money for a new shirt, a cute meal with a friend, or even put the money into savings. She gave it back to me so happily, like she didn’t think about what twenty extra dollars would mean for herself, or what it really meant to me. That’s when I realized that I didn’t have to always assume the worst from people, and that you can have virtue whenever you want, and to do it because sometimes it makes you happy to brighten up someone’s day.

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