Honor (1300 Characters) 1300 Characters the Cal

HONOR (1300 Characters)

1300 Characters

The Cal Tech Honor System is consistent with the philosophy by which I live my life: "Always try to do the right thing." Sometimes, that is easier than others. Recently, I had to choose between doing what I knew was morally right and compassionate and doing what was expected by a crowd of acquaintances.

I was on my way to the laundromat where I have been washing my clothes for years. I noticed that a small crowd of people outside, shouting at someone to go away and I recognized several of the people in the crowd as regular customers of the laundromat and two of them acknowledged me as I approached. The person they were shouting at was an emaciated girl dressed in filthy rag-like clothes. As I was trying to decide what to do, she must have realized that I was a potential ally, because she asked me to please help her wash her clothes. As I got closer to her, I could see that she was very dirty and that she smelled bad. I also noticed that she was partially paralyzed and that she carried schoolbooks.

I washed her clothes as she waited outside and I knew some of the other customers were ashamed by the way they avoided my eye contact. When her clothes were ready, I folded and packed them into a new laundry bag that I purchased because her bag was putrid. I knew it was the right thing.

1800+ Character Draft

I appreciate the sentiment behind the Cal Tech Honor System because it is entirely consistent with the predominant philosophy by which I live my life: "Always try to do the right thing." Sometimes, doing what I know is the right thing is easier than other times. A recent situation in which I found myself required the choice between doing what I knew to be the morally right and compassionate thing and doing what I knew was expected by a crowd of acquaintances.

I was on my way to do my laundry at the laundromat where I have been washing my clothes for several years. As I approached the entrance, I noticed that a small crowd of people was shouting at someone and telling her to go away and that she was not welcome. I recognized several of the people in the crowd as regular customers of the laundromat and two of them acknowledged me as I approached. The person they were shouting at was an emaciated girl dressed in filthy rag-like clothes. As I was trying to decide what to do, she must have realized that I was a potential ally, because she asked me to please help her wash her clothes. As I got closer to her, I could see that she was very dirty and that it was probably the foul odor about her that had caused the other customers to chase her from the laundromat.