Exercise 1

After taking the VIA strengths test, I learned that my top strength is "citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty." This did not come as a surprise to me because I always try my best when working with others, and I put the best interests of my group first. Also, I am very loyal to my teammates and make sure everyone's opinion is heard. My second strength is the "capacity to love and be loved," which also is not surprising to me because I deeply value my relationships with others. When I love and care for someone, and when someone loves and cares for me, I find that our relationship is stronger. By having people in my life with whom I have strong, loving relationships, especially my family, I find that I can live a happier life. My third strength, "caution, prudence, and discretion," is very accurate because I always weigh the pros and cons before making big decisions, and I always keep in mind the consequences of my actions. My fourth strength, "kindness and generosity," matches my actions because I try my hardest to do good deeds for others, and I love the satisfaction of being generous and making others happy. Lastly, my fifth strength of "leadership" is fairly precise because in a group, I tend to be very organized and make sure that things get accomplished. I make sure that each group member has a say, and that the group cooperates. I believe that I am authentic because my character strengths are an accurate representation of my actions, motivations, speech, and appearance. I always strive to be an excellent leader and group member, my actions are always based on my carefulness and kindness, and I am always open to love and be loved.

Random Acts of Kindness observed:
1. giving a hug to someone who wasn't having a great day
2. holding the library door open for others
3. coming to support friends/classmates at a sports event
4. offering advice on photography
5. helping a freshman find their class
6. offering to help hang up signs in the cafeteria
7. lending a fellow student a pencil
8. helping a neighbor, who is about to move, load furniture into their car
9. giving an extra water bottle to a teammate who needed one
10. bringing a lost item to the office
11. lending another kid money to buy popcorn at a baseball game
12. teaching a teammate, who had never played baseball, how to properly hit a ball
13. helping a neighbor move boxes outside to the trash
14. giving words of encouragement at a field hockey game
15. giving up a seat at the baseball game so someone else could sit next to their friend
16. picking up someone's paper that fell
17. a group of friends inviting a new student to sit with them at lunch
18. letting a sibling have the last piece of cake
19. offering a classmate help with their homework
20. offering to take notes and get homework for a classmate that would be missing class that day
21. letting a friend know their bus is about to leave, so it doesn't leave without them
22. letting sibling watch the show they want to on TV
23. offering to share a locker with a teammate in the locker room when there weren't any open lockers    left
24. lending someone their jacket when it was cold outside
25. sharing lunch with someone who forgot theirs

People's reactions to these acts of kindness were very grateful. I could tell that whoever received the act of kindness was appreciative and thankful. These acts of kindness made me feel happy to know that I am surrounded by people who are willing to do kind things for others. Seeing these actions inspires me to perform more acts of kindness every day, because they can really brighten someone's mood. The RAK that made the biggest impression on me was when a group of friends kindly invited a new student to sit with them at lunch. In high school, many people have already formed groups of friends, so it can be hard for new students to fit in. However, this group of friends was extremely welcoming, and I could tell that their kindness had a significant impact on the new student. All of the RAK's, this one especially, showed me that the world is a place where "love actually is all around us." Although it is sometimes difficult to see the love all around us in the world, these small random acts of kindness prove that it exists.

The Happiness Machine

I would choose not to plug into a machine that would make me continuously happy. If I connected to this machine, I would never be fully satisfied knowing that none of it is real. I would be more satisfied in a world where I can experience true happiness, even if it comes with pain and bad experiences, than in a world with artificial happiness. It is better to see things as they really are, whether they are good or bad. Plugging into the machine is like living in a state of ignorance, with a deprivation of reality.
In the machine you are able to get anything you want to make you happy, which would not teach you that you have to work for the things you want. With the machine, my life would not consist of varying emotion, only happiness. Without pain, I cannot experience true happiness. Also, without going through painful experiences, I cannot really appreciate the good things in life. Experiencing pain and sorrow brings empathy, and without the feeling of empathy people are less likely to help others in a state of pain. When connected to the machine, you become so caught up in your own happiness that you become unaware of the fact that other people are experiencing pain and sadness.
By going through bad experiences and overcoming them, you become much stronger. If I am always truly happy, I will miss out on the opportunity to overcome obstacles and grow stronger as a person. If given the choice, I would choose not to plug into the machine because it is better to live in reality, and see the world for what it truly is, good and bad.