Student Code of Conduct

After reading the student code of conduct, and as both a student and a professional in the work place, I’ve realized that it is important to follow a code of ethics and integrity in all aspects of life. For instance, using someone else’s work and claiming it as your own is unfair and dishonest, not only to yourself but to everyone else involved with the team. Taking credit for someone else’s work prevents you from learning new things, and in the end only stunts your growth as a student and a professional. As a student at AIU (American InterContinental University), you are likely to participate in group discussions with fellow students. It is important to always keep things on topic, and speak to your classmates with respect. Using bad language and not looking at things in a serious manner only downplays the integrity of the discussion group.

One of the most important things about being a student is keeping personal character and the object of the assignment separate. When offering constructive criticism to other students, the critique should only go as far as the work the produced. One’s assignment does not reflect on who they are as a person, and does not make up their character. Anything beyond that is considered a personal attack in my eyes, and completely irrelevant to the task at hand. Whenever somebody does not submit an assignment as instructed, I view it as laziness, plain and simple. In today’s world, where technology is such a driving force, computers and internet are available in almost every household. If not, then it is extremely easy to access. Furthermore, this is an online course, obviously you made a personal choice to get involved. Simply failing to do an assignment only reveals your lack of commitment.

Taking online classes can sometimes be difficult. However, the great thing about them is many tools are offered to help you work as a team with other students. For example, discussion boards, online chat rooms, and email are great ways to contact others, and bounce different opinions and information between you. Purposefully providing someone else with false information is extremely dishonest. One can be caused to second guess their own work. Also, it creates rifts in the group. Once somebody figures out they were misinformed, the probability of them choosing to work together in the future is slim, for you have lost all trust. Trust between students is of the utmost importance. I truly feel that everybody in these classes wants nothing but success for one another. By failing to follow through with a commitment you are letting the team as a whole down, which only really hurts yourself. This applies in all aspects of day to day life. It is such a simple principle, something we are taught from a young age, a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link.

There are certain guidelines that I believe everyone tries to live by. They vary from person to person, but no matter what they may be they are the building blocks to creating a life that leaves you happy and fulfilled. The top ten values I try to live my life by are: 1. Honesty: Honesty can go a long way with people. If you are honest with people from the beginning, you eliminate a lot of problems. 2. Respect: The golden rule of “Treat people how you want to be treated”. Respect is earned, not given. 3. Stay Positive: Life can get very hard sometimes. You never know when you are going to get a curve ball thrown your way. Staying positive, and always seeing the brighter side, may not make the situation any easier, but can sure help you cope. Even though in the end , no one makes it out alive, a positive attitude can give your story a happy ending. 4. Family: Family is the most important thing. They are the only ones that will always be there to give you that moral support in life, when everyone else around you fails to do so.

5. Perseverance: Never be afraid to fail. Life is about different experiences, and the things you learn from them. Always get back in the saddle when you fall off the horse! 6. Creativity: Sometimes in professional situations, or any for that matter, you need to be able to improvise. Things don’t always go according to plan. 7. Having an open mind: This is a trait I deeply value. You are going to work with many different people throughout life. You never want to pass judgment on someone, even if they see things differently. Everyone always has something beneficial to offer. That is the great thing about individuality. 8. Having internal strength: Be confident in the person that you are. Everyone has morals and values, and those who choose not to compromise them for others show the difference between strength and weakness. 9. Acceptance: It has been my personal experience that you will have things happen in life that you cannot control. Sometimes, that may have a bad influence on you.

The key to living a happy life is learning to accept the things you cannot change, learn to forgive, and to try and change the things you can. This is the only real way to move on successfully. 10. Value teamwork: It is always ok to ask for help. You can’t always do everything alone. Sometimes, a little teamwork can go a long way. Rolling your sleeves up, putting your heads together, and relying on your teammates can produce a wonderful outcome. It can leave you better off than when you started! In closing, all of these guidelines share a common connection in both the academic, and professional worlds. A universal code of ethics and integrity, these are the keys to success. Always keep the big picture in mind, and put the needs of the team before your own. It is such a simple thing, to follow this general code of conduct. It is not difficult to value not only yourself but the others around you, and to recognize how everyone can bring something to the table. Work hard, and follow these guidelines, and being unsuccessful is simply not an option. It does not matter the setting, whether a classroom or the office, being a committed and respectful person will take you where you need to go throughout your lifetime.