Heart of a Champion

Just for Educators

Writing Assignments

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Commitment

Xpress Yourself
It is difficult to stay committed today in a world of instant results. Think about what it means to enter a race. We’re told it doesn’t really matter where you start rather it’s all about where you finish. That is true in some ways. But the greater truth is that what matters most is that you do finish.

Have your students write a short, third person story about a person who is a good example of commitment. They may choose to write about someone they know or know about; or they may write about an experience they have had relating to commitment.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Leadership
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Xpress Yourself
We live in a world today that is in desperate need of good leaders. Through the influence of the media, and the public failures of some leaders, our definition of leadership has become unclear. But what has always set great leaders apart is character. The tangible and intangible qualities that make people want to follow them and seek them out for direction and guidance. Everyone leads someone. You may not realize it, but someone is looking to you for leadership. How will you respond?

Have your students write a short, third person story about a person who has been a good leader. They may choose to write about someone they know or know about; or they may write about an experience they have had when they demonstrated effective leadership.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Perseverance
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Xpress Yourself
It is easier to quit than to persevere, but not nearly as rewarding. Did you know that most of the greatest world leaders throughout history have experienced some sort of great trial? It seems as though adversity is the fire that molds our character more than any other type of experience. It is in adversity where we realize what we are made of, and just how much we can endure.

Have your students write a short, third person story about a person who has been an example of perseverance. They may choose to write about someone they know or know about; or they may write about an experience they have had when they persevered.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Teamwork
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Xpress Yourself
We live in a world today that focuses on individualism. Yet reality tells us that most good things are accomplished by a group of individuals working together for a common cause. Take a look at any successful sports team, corporation, entertainment company, nation – those that have become great have, in general, learned that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. But what has always been the foundation of great teams is great character. True teams are willing to put the good of the team, and the goals of the group above all else. With that focus, they are able to work together to reach something greater than they could ever achieve on their own. Everyone is a part of some type of team – whether in a school group, a sports team, a band, a family, or a job. You may not realize it, but some group is looking to you to help pull them up to reach something greater. How will you respond?

Have your students write a short, third person story about a person who has been a good example of teamwork. They may choose to write about someone they know or know about; or they may write about an experience they have had when they had to pull together with others in a team setting.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Respect
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Xpress Yourself
Today, we live in a world today that is bent on “trash-talking”, bad-mouthing, uncovering privacy, and airing dirty laundry. We are surrounded by cultural phenomena that encourage the demeaning and devaluing of people. More people today are being treated for depression than any other type of medical condition. So much of this has occurred because respect has become so rare in our society. In fact, we have made disrespect an art form of sorts. Hundreds of comedy routines and film and television plot lines are built exclusively on disrespecting others. But a person’s sense of value is determined greatly by what is said to them and demonstrated toward them by those around them. If a person is respected, he or she will rise to the level of respect that is given. Those who are shown respect will in turn show respect to others. Everyone is worthy of our respect, whether a high-profile individual, someone who can bring us gain, or someone who seems to have no connection to you. Each one is a parent, child or sibling to someone. Each has a purpose and destiny in our world. You may not realize it, but every day you have an opportunity to show respect to someone, and in doing so, attach value to them. You may be the only one in their life that will do so. How will you respond?

Have your students write a short, third person story about a person who has been a model of respect. They may choose to write about someone they know or know about; or they may write about an experience they have had when they demonstrated respect toward others.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Integrity
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Xpress Yourself
In the early history of our nation, men did not need to enter into contracts with each other in order to make a deal. Instead, they merely gave each other their word and then shook hands to consummate the deal. Today, a handshake and promise do not seem to carry the same weight. But people still want to know that people will uphold their word. When a public official takes an oath of office, the people trust he or she will do what they promise. When a corporate leader tells his employees, shareholders, or the public of the financial status of the company, the listeners want to trust the leader is telling them the whole truth. The concept of truth has taken a beating recently, and ethics seem to have become based on the situation. But that can change. You can be a part of restoring America’s faith in our leaders. You can be a person of integrity – one who is truthful all the time and who lives according to your own convictions. In doing so, you will become a leader who is worthy to be trusted.

Every company in America is looking for prospective employees who are people of integrity more so than experience or expertise. Every citizen desires the same in politicians. We are still a nation that longs for leaders of high moral character who are honest and just. How will you respond?

Have your students write a short, third person story about a person who is a good example of integrity. They may choose to write about someone they know or know about; or they may write about an experience they have had relating to personal integrity.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Responsibility
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Xpress Yourself
Today, we live in a world that doesn’t seem to understand the concept of responsibility. We live in a time when people want to pass blame around to others. Many people want to pay the blame game, and find someone else to bear the responsibility for them. And few want to be responsible for their own actions, words or attitudes. But, true champions are responsible and reliable. They can be counted on to back up their words and be true in their actions. Responsibility means not just doing what you say you will do, but doing what you know you should do. Responsibility means doing what is expected and required in a situation. Responsibility means doing what you ought to do even when you don’t want to do it. Those who take responsibility are less likely to become discouraged or depressed, because they follow through on their word and fulfill their purpose. People who demonstrate responsibility will be given more, and better, opportunities. You may not realize it, but every day you have an opportunity to show yourself to be responsible, and in doing so, open new doors of opportunity for yourself. How will you respond?

Have your students write a short, third person story about a person who is a good example of responsibility. They may choose to write about someone they know or know about; or they may write about an experience they have had relating to personal responsibility.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Self-Control
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Xpress Yourself
Hugh Black once said, “True self-control means willingness to resign the small for the sake of the great, the present for the sake of the future.” It is true that when we are not self-controlled, we often sacrifice what is best for something that seems good at the time, and sacrifice the future for the present. When you recognize that giving in to your desires may mean forfeiting something great for the future, are you really willing to pay that kind of price for temporary and momentary satisfaction? In the athlete’s language, are you willing to sacrifice being disqualified from the race for momentary pleasure? How will you respond?

Have your students write a short, third person story about a person who has been a model of self-control. They may choose to write about someone they know or know about; or they may write about an experience they have had when they demonstrated self-control.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Compassion
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Xpress Yourself
Today, we live in a world that to a great extent has lost a sense of compassion. People can be very hurtful to someone who is not like them. Many are kind only when there is a direct benefit to them. But with the pace of life today, and the pressure that many face to get by, people are in desperate need of compassion. A compassionate person will feel pity, show mercy, and even sometimes spare others from destruction. Compassion is not just feeling sorry for people who are hurting, or feeling the pain with them, but also doing something about their pain. Remember a time when you hurt yourself physically and required the attention of your mother or father. It was nice that they felt sorry for you, and that they told you it hurt them to see you hurt. But imagine if that was the extent of their attention to your injury? How would that make you feel? The best thing they did for you was when they did something about your pain. That is compassion at work.

It is easy for us to tell someone we feel for them, or we hurt with them, but what will we do about their hurt? Every day you have a chance to enter into someone else’s pain and do something about it. How will you respond?

Have your students write a short, third person story about a person who has been a model of compassion. They may choose to write about someone they know or know about; or they may write about an experience they have had when they demonstrated compassion.