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Integrity is one of those words that is hard to define. To me, it means listening to your conscience, staying true to yourself and your values, and doing what you know to be right, no matter what.

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In a perfect world, everyone would value your integrity in the workplace and want you to stay true to your values.  In the real world, it doesn't always work this way.  Others may have different priorities than you do.  Sometimes what your "gut" tells you is right is even in direct conflict with what you are being told to do.

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Empathy is doing your best to put yourself in someone else's shoes. It's compassion, but it's more than that. It's a conscious effort to be aware that everyone has a unique story and perspective, with joys and struggles, triumphs and failures. Empathy doesn't mean being weak, or a pushover, or accepting excuses. It simply means that I value you, your experience, and your humanity.

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As someone who works with people and their stories all day long, working from a place of empathy helps me to understand people's needs, stories, and actions.  Conversely, empathy in the workplace can sometimes make people view you as weak, or think that you can be pushed around.  I have had both students and colleagues make this mistake.  Operating from a place of empathy doesn't mean that I won't "push back" against colleagues if necessary, or allow a student to receive a failing grade.  What it does mean is that even if that happens, I still respect you as a person and value your story.

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1.  Have you ever been misjudged as being either too "soft"/empathetic, or too "hard" or lacking compassion?
OR
2. Have you ever had someone positively impact your life by acting with empathy?

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Purpose means living intentionally -- creating your life actively rather than participating in it passively. Your purpose can be your profession, your family or children, your faith, or all of these things. For me, purpose is what keeps me moving forward and is closely tied to my professional work. Purpose is tied to persistence. A sense of purpose keeps me pushing forward and focused on my goals, even when I encounter challenges.

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I love this picture -- even my Maggie wants to learn how to be more persistent! :-)

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Our purpose doesn't have to be tied to our work, but I believe that mine is. I think that one of my purposes in life is to make college more fun and less scary -- to come alongside my students and help them realize that they really CAN succeed...and then to help them do it. This belief in what I do and why it matters helps me stay focused when I encounter frustrations at work. Knowing that my work is important and that people are counting on me keeps me pushing forward.

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What gives YOU a sense of purpose? What do you see as the relationship between purpose and grit, growth mindset, or other concepts discussed in this course?

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What does living with integrity mean to you? What do you do when a school or workplace situation "conflicts" with your integrity?