In our study of real-life heroes, and because my students need more practice writing essays, we’ve done some brainstorming in our writer’s notebooks about the three tenets we would live by and what those tenets would look like in flesh and bone. I continue to be astounded by the thinking of my students. Here are some of the highlights:

Follow your faith: begin your day with prayer because God is always there to help. Let others be uplifted by what you have to say, share your favorite verse and talk about it.

Do your best: build the fence as straight as you can so you don’t have to go back and do it again, take the time to mix your goat and sheep food precisely so you do not waste it.

Have fun along the way: do the work you love to do and you will always have a smile on your face.

Live everyday like it’s your last: never let a great opportunity pass you by, if you wait to go visit your grandparents or play with your baby cousin, you might miss out.

Never give up: If you only do things when they’re easy, then you never learn and improve.

Never live a day without laughing: Find joy in what you do and in making people laugh.

Quilt display at Lakewood Cultural Center.

Be yourself: find out who you are and be that person, if you just try to mimic other people you’ll never find out who you are. Find out what you love and forget what other people say.

Take chances: try something the first time because the opportunity may not come again.

Think before you do: think things through so you never end up in a situation you don’t want to be in, ask yourself if it will be beneficial to you-make sure your actions won’t bring consequences you will regret.

Love God: if you have Jesus Christ in your life, the rest of the pieces will fall together, God will never lead you wrong and will always listen, love you, and

Iowa Church by Barb

never leave you.

Work hard: Give 100% all the time and even if you fail, you can say you gave it everything you had, if you can learn to work your butt off at everything you do then you can accomplish whatever you put your mind to.

Smile often: Be that bright and happy person that brings a smile to others, you can control how your life is going to go by putting on a smile and saying, “I got this!”, slap on a smile and take on the world!

Live with intelligence: to be successful you have to have smart practices, consider each option and consequences and use your brain to think through your best path.

View from an oil rig-Jamie Wilson

Live with perseverance: those who give up never win, get back up when you are knocked down and try again

Live with kindness: the best way to make an impact with your life is to show kindness, one small act of kindness might have a huge impact and you won’t even know it, give and expect nothing in return and your life will be rich

Live humbly: living a simple life makes you appreciate, be thankful for all that you have and give more than you take, let others talk and listen genuinely,

Iowa barn-by Barb.

appreciate talents and qualities in others

Live honestly: being true to yourself creates fulfillment, pursue a career you are passionate about, believe in yourself and what you represent, so stand up to peer pressure.

Live with purpose: set priorities and know your core beliefs and values, let each day be a new day to work toward your dreams, take joy in the experiences that life gives.