Essay Contest Winners – The Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg North

The Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg North\District 7390

The Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg North has announced the winner of their Essay Contest, Juliet Pawelski, who was a ninth grader at Cumberland Valley High School.  Her teacher was Mr. Brian Martin.  Mr. Martin is now retired.  The head of the English Department is Dr. Fran Carothers.  Dr. Carothers was instrumental in getting the essay contest up and running at the high school.  We are going into our third year of having a contest.  We have lobbied heavily that our District establish a district wide contest.  We were told this past week that are going to do this next year.

Juliet Pawelski, Grade 9, Cumberland Valley High School – 1st Place
John F. M. Kocsis, Grade 9, Cumberland Valley High School – 2nd Place

The Four-Way Test

The Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg North\District 7390
Juliet Pawelski, First Place
Grade 9, Cumberland Valley High School
Teacher:  Brian Martin

I must make moral decisions every day, whether as a student of Cumberland Valley High School or in relation to my family and friends in general. All of these decisions, as small as some are, can affect my life in many kinds of ways.  I must answer questions daily for others and especially for myself. Even the little choices about what I eat for breakfast this morning or if I start to do my homework at four or five o’clock tonight may affect my life in the future. In addition to using the Rotary’s Four Was test in my daily life, I can specifically use it in my job on the high school newspaper.

As a staff writer, I include the Rotary Four Way test when writing my articles, sometimes without even thinking. The first question is always a part of my writing and editing: Is it the truth? Since I am reporting and not narrating, the truth is of such extreme importance that I cannot stress it enough. I must ask myself if I write the complete truth or if I leave out any part of the story. While I write a news story, I ask myself more questions than who, what, when, where, why, and how. I have to think about the audience and the topic, and whether I am telling the whole story or not. The facts are what literally write the story in news writing. Vague, incorrect sentences and a few useless paragraphs do not equal a good article or an article at all. I do not write the news for fun. As part of the paper, I want people to know what is going on around them and, if the paragraphs are full of false information or no real facts, then I am not getting the real knowledge out to the readers. I am just giving them another three or four minutes of worthless reading material.

When I am presenting one of those debatable articles that can raise controversy if not written carefully, another of the Rotary Four Way test questions pops into my head: Is it fair to all concerned? I must present both sides of the story equally in my writing or the party not represented will be robbed of offering their side as well as the opposing section. I can not write a story on red versus yellow and cheer for yellow in the article. If I write with an opinion, I will not give the reader the chance to develop their own view on the subject. Unless you are writing an editorial, you are not supposed to show any feeling on the matter at hand while building your news report. It is one of the common writing ethics not to take sides, and to publicly judge someone on their views is awfully unfair. Sometimes it is incredibly difficult to restrain yourself from giving input on the topic, but your personal opinion is one decision you leave out of your newspaper writing.
The next of the Four Way test questions is a harder one to incorporate into writing. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Truthfully, I do not often think about this question while working on a lead. It is tricky to relate this particular question to the newspaper. In the future, however, I intend to think harder about whether this will strengthen friendships and goodwill. In a school paper, one often writes about problems or topics closely related to the school and its students, teachers and administrators. In an establishment as large as Cumberland Valley High School, many students do not know half of the other teenagers in the school. When I write an article including someone’s opinions or words, it gives them a chance to speak to their classmates about what they think and make themselves known to kids who have never heard of them. Students’ quotes are required in our school newspaper stories, and that means that many different people get their fifteen minutes of fame whilst sharing their outlook on each issue.

The last question of the Rotary Four Way test is, in my opinion, the other three rolled into one simple question. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? What I see when I look at this question are all of the important components of the other questions asked. For my article to benefit the people who read it, it must be something that will tell the story truthfully, present all sides of the story, and hopefully better inform all members of the Cumberland Valley High School community. To write a beneficial story, I must have a topic that will help the reader to better understand or learn about a topic that they can relate to. If I were to pick a story idea about squirrels instead of a story about a girl in Cumberland Valley that helps out in Third World countries, I would not be picking the most beneficial topic. News writing can also be beneficial to my writing abilities. I must try my best to write articles to the full extent of my abilities, and with the hope that the story will further improve my style and skill for the next time I write in the newspaper.

News writing is exceptionally important to me. I feel proud when a product of my hard work is laid out in print to be distributed throughout the school to the students and staff. The Rotary Four Way test lends me a hand when I have decisions to make about my article. If my story passes the Four Way test, I know it will be a first-rate account that I would be proud to print. All of the questions can relate to the ethics of good journalism, and I intend to continue using them in my daily writing. The Rotary Club must be proud to have such a respectable maxim upon their wall, and I hope all of the members of the Club have found their own special use for the Rotary Four Way test as a guide in their daily lives.

The Rotary Four-Way Test

The Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg North\District 7390
John F. M. Kocsis, Second Place
Grade 9, Cumberland Valley High School
Teacher:  Brian Martin

The Rotary Four-Way Test is one of the most important business ideals of the 20th century.  Since being established 75 years ago by Herbert Taylor during the Great Depression, the Four-Way Test has not only become an institution for Rotarians everywhere, but also for many successful businesses throughout the world.  Even though the Four-Way Test was created for use in the professional world, I personally feel that this evaluation can certainly be applied to my daily life.
When I first heard about the Four-Way Test, I immediately thought about my participation in one specific activity, and the process I went through deciding whether or not to join.  I am currently a member of the United Way Youth Allocation Panel which allows me to be very active in the community.  In this program, students from high schools across Central Pennsylvania raise money and subsequently decide which organizations will receive the funds and different grants.  I was very proud to be selected for this organization.  I was the first freshman and only member from Cumberland Valley on the panel this fall when it resumed for the year.  When approached and asked to join, I mentally went through a process similar to the Four-Way Test.

What exactly is the Four-Way Test?  It is quite straightforward, which is probably the most ingenious aspect of it.  The Four-Way Test is based off of four simple questions, all of which have meaning in the world today.  The first question asks, “is it the truth?”   I believe that in order for a business to be truly professional, it must not have any fraudulence.  In the business world, nothing is more important than whether or not information is fact.  Truth is also significant in the daily life of an individual.  Before answering a question or making an important choice in life, an individual must consider the truth.  Lying is unethical, regardless of the situation.  Subsequently, upon considering my participation of the United Way Youth Panel, I had to consider whether or not I believed in what they stood for – was it a truthful organization?   I researched it and found out that it was indeed what it claimed to be.
The second question asked by the Rotary’s test requires justice and equality.  It asks, “is it fair to all concerned?”   Like the previous question, this one is imperative to a professional community.  Businesses are generally considered to be cutthroat, something that may or may not be a stereotype.  Taylor’s second question helps prevent scandals, such as those prevalent in the depression era.  Fairness also has meaning to the average person.  When making a decision or forming an opinion, it is important to consider whether or not it is fair to all involved, especially in this age of awareness and tolerance.  What kind of place would this world become if no one thought of the good of mankind before acting?  If every man, woman and child was selfish, our planet could not survive.  We have to promote good will and fairness for all humanity, which was created to be equal.  Everyone deserves to have the opportunity for equality.  In the same vain, I had to consider whether or not I believed the United Way was an organization that was fair.  Different groups come to the organization, stating why they should receive grant money.  The organization then decides how the money is allocated .  My research indicated that the process included information and discussion, which seemed extremely fair to me.

I also had to consider the group that would be making the decisions.  In respect to the individuals forming the panel and those groups that were soliciting funds, I considered the concept of good will.  My thought process mirrored that in the third question:  “will it build good will and better friendships?”   On the surface, it may seem like a question that has little or nothing to do with ethics, but rather the betterment of oneself.  Some may take it as a way to increase relations that will result in more unfair and despicable ways of commerce.  Despite the way it appears, this is truly a moral issue.  If one thinks about it clearly, it makes sense.  If something does not build good will and better relations, how could it possibly improve the state of the world?  We have to use community service to promote altruism in our communities, in the country and all over our planet.  If we help others, friendships will result and the world will become increasingly more peaceful.   In considering the United Way, I realized that it was a way to meet other young people from other schools, also concerned with the community.  Additionally, it promotes relations with members of other service associations that ask for money.  Ultimately, good amity is formed between the program and different establishments where funds and awareness are both raised.

That brings me to the final question posed by the test:  This question may be the most significant of them all.  “Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”  The idea obviates the idea of collaboration and tries to put an end to lopsided proposals.  Of course, when I mention collaboration, I mean it in the sense of working together as a way to blackball other sides, not as cooperation between two parties.  In this sense of the term, collaboration is a terrible thing, and I believe the third question does its best to prevent that from ever happening.  This, too, has implications in the daily lives of laypeople.  For example, cheating may or may not be beneficial to the perpetrator, but can seriously harm the reputation and trustworthiness of the collaborator.  We need to consider the future and how our words and actions will affect the progress of the human race.  Did I consider this United Way program to be beneficial to those concerned?  The answer is a resounding yes.  The money goes to great causes.  Not only do the places who get the allocation benefit, but the panel members gain experience as active members of their community, helping them evolve as positive leaders for the future.

The United Way Youth Allocation Panel definitely passes the Rotary’s Four-Way Test as they continue to work diligently servicing the community.  In applying the values of the test, I am again glad that I was approached and that I said yes.  I am proud to be part of this wonderful service organization and I have already begun recruiting new members.

Rotary International is another service organization that prides itself in its volunteerism and community service.  When Taylor invented the Four-Way Test in 1932, he had no intention of using it in this way.  On the contrary, he used it as a way to revive his struggling business.  He could not have known how momentous it would become in the field of ethics.  Taylor lived during America’s hardest times, the Great Depression, when scandals dominated the country.  Taylor, however, was not corrupt, like so many others during this troubled time.  He used his professional-minded approach to develop a standard of compliance for business decisions.  His approach began as a 100 word statement that was reduced to a seven question test, and then further condensed until it became the current Four-Way Test.

My experience in considering the United Way Youth Allocation Panel was not the first time I used the principles of the Four-Way Test, nor will it be the last.  I plan to use the Four-Way Test to make many important decisions in the future.  Obviously, as a member of the panel, I will be making many allocation decisions over the next four years.  I will remember these ideals and  I will evaluate each service application and decide whether or not it fits Taylor’s criteria.  If it does not, I will make sure that the funds go to a different service that is maybe more fair and is beneficial to everyone.  Additionally, I plan to apply these principles to my other club involvements as well.

I am very pleased that I was given the opportunity to do research on the Rotary Clubs and the Four-Way Test.  It allowed me a chance to reflect on my own personal values, and provided me with a tool to use for making important decisions.  It provided me with an excellent asset that I can utilize to help the community.  From this point in my life onward, I am sure I will remember Taylor’s famous test.  I greatly admire Herbert Taylor and am grateful for his philosophy.   His method can be used by people everywhere to prevent the world to become as scandalous as it was during Taylor’s lifetime. I look forward to utilizing the Four-Way Test for a positive impact on my future decisions.

Un-4-gettable

Rotary Club of Pismo Beach / Five Cities
Tori Miles, First Place
Grade 9, High School Division
Mrs. Wade , Arroyo Grande High School

There is an escalating problem occurring in households all over the
world. A bitter, unending battle, which can only be resolved by its
participants. No, it’s not starvation, not abuse, not poverty, but…
sibling rivalry. Yes it’s true. Sibling rivalry happens at least to some
degree in every home, not excluding mine. In our house, my brother
and I get along as well as an acrophobic claustrophobe and a glass
elevator. We’re not fighting 24/7 but, I think we do argue more than is
needed. It would be great if once in a while we could just sit and
watch T.V. or eat dinner without breaking out in a battle over what
show to watch or who gets the last soda (because sodas are a rarity
in our house). Yet, in this bleak time, it seems as if there is a beam of
hope shining into our dark situation in the form of the Rotary Club’s 4-
Way Test. Everyone makes mistakes now and then, and it would
help us all if we thought of our own consequences as well as other’s
before we acted. I think that my brother and I would both get along
better if we started asking ourselves, “Is it the truth?” Is it fair to all
concerned?” “Will it build good will and better friendships?”, and “Will
it be beneficial to all concerned?”
Sometimes, a lie can be the easiest and, what we think is, the best
way to deal with a tough situation. Yet it is actually the exact oppo-
site. By using the first question of the 4-Way Test, Is it the truth?, you
can save yourself a load of time and trouble. I really like to cook, and
I especially enjoy baking cookies and trying new and different recipes
each time. But there’s one problem with this hobby. My brother.
Whenever I cook something, he never is interested in helping me
bake the food or wash the dishes. He just hovers around the kitchen
area like a vulture and waits until I take the helpless sheet of cookies
out of the oven. Then he is very interested in them. So sometimes I
lie to him and tell him that the sugar cookies I made are actually coco-
nut, because he despises coconut. When he hears that, he recoils
from the cookies like they’re poisonous, but my scheme only works
for a little while. Once my mom or dad tries them and tells me how
great these sugar cookies are, my plan is ruined and I have to face an
angry, hungry brother plus my parents scolding me for lying. If I use
the 4-Way Test before I deal with my brother, I won’t have to deal
with him or my parents being mad, and maybe if I’m truthful to him,
he’ll think about helping me out once in a while.
It’s human nature to think of yourself first, then consider others after
you’ve been taken care of. But the 4-Way Test’s second step, Is It
fair to all concerned?, shows that reversing this habit could be just as
helpful to you. My brother has this annoying habit of always eating
the last of something that someone had already asked him to save, or
told him that they were going to eat it later. I remember one time we
bought a box of chocolate Cocoa Krispies to make a special dessert
for a party we were having. Our mom hardly every buys sugar cereal,
so this was a big deal. Anyway, we had already made the thing for
the party and we still had half a box left, so we thought we would save
it to make the dessert again in a week or so. I made sure everyone
knew the cereal was to be saved and not eaten. But I guess I
should’ve had everyone swear an oath, or sign a treaty because three
days later, my brother was found sitting at the table, with the entire
half-box of cereal heaped like an overflowing mountain in his bowl.
Instead of letting everyone share the dessert I was going to make, he
decided to eat all of the cereal himself, without asking. We all were
angry, but there was nothing we could do, it was already gone. I think
after that he realized that he should’ve considered the situation from
everyone else’s view as well as his, because it was certainly fair to
him, but not to the rest of us. If he’d used the 4-way Test to begin
with, he probably would’ve realized that it wasn’t very fair that only he
got to enjoy the treat and the rest of us just got to watch him. This
example may sound petty, but I think that we should use the 4-Way
Test not just on major, life-changing decisions, but everyday ones as
well.
O.K. enough talk about food. Friendships are something that every-
one has experienced. They aren’t always good, but if you try hard,
you can at least make them better. One way you can build better
friendships is by using the third assessment of the 4-Way Test, Will it
build good will and better friendships? My family’s backyard isn’t like
most. We have a nice lawn, a hot tub, a barbeque and chickens.
Yes, chickens. Chickens are not a normal pet in the city; they can’t
run around freely or anything. This means that we have to keep them
in a coop, which means we have to clean the coop pretty much every
day. We each have our “chicken jobs”. I clean and fill food and wa-
ter, my brother cleans and fills the nesting boxes. But there’s one
thing no one likes to do and that is collect the eggs. It may not sound
hard, but trust me, it is annoying. The chickens decided that instead
of using the nice, clean, roomy, new nesting boxes my dad built for
them, they’d rather lay their eggs in the dirt nest. The dirt nest is a
nest they dug down in the deepest, darkest, hardest place to reach in
the coop. So to get the eggs, you have to get down on your knees
and stretch your arm out, under the ramp (which bars you from look-
ing in), then grope around in there until you grasp one of the eggs
and pull it out. This needs to be repeated about ten times, because
that’s how many eggs we get a day. Annoying. Well, we fabricated
this rule that whoever does the chickens last, has to get the eggs.
I try to do my job first every day to get it over with. So my brother al-
most always has to get the eggs, which makes him follow me around
every day saying I’m lazy because I don’t ever get the eggs. If I use
the third step of the 4-Way Test when I’m taking care of the chickens,
I could start getting the eggs sometimes. And if I try to split the duties
a little better, I’m sure my brother will be happier and our friendship
would improve. Plus it’s good to do things for others, even if you
don’t have to or weren’t asked to.
It’s easy for us to get lazy and not want to try our best or spend a lot
of time on tasks we’re assigned to do. That’s why it’s smart to also
use the final step of the 4-Way Test, Will it be beneficial to all con-
cerned?, and apply it to your situation before you act. My brother and
I love to play games on the computer and on the Playstation, but not
the same games. He likes the fighting and WW II ones, and I like the
fun and challenging ones. We take turns playing on the computer,
and we don’t bother each other. But my brother has one annoying
habit. He takes his game out of the computer and then puts it in the
first open box he sees, and it’s normally the wrong box. This is ag-
gravating because whenever I go to look for a game, I pick up its box,
but the wrong game is inside! So then I have to search through each
box until I finally find what I’m looking for. I get angry at my brother
about it sometimes because he doesn’t think about what he does
when he’s doing it, he just does it. And the funny thing is he has just
as hard of a time finding his games as I do. If he thinks “Will it be
beneficial to all concerned” before he puts his game away, he might
realize that not only will it not be beneficial to me, it won’t be very
beneficial to him because we both end up spending time looking for
the games that he misplaced.
So, in the end, I think that anyone who makes any decision should
try to use the 4-Way Test as often as possible. Before they act they
should ask themselves, “Is it the truth?”, “Is it fair to all concerned?”,
Will it build good will and better friendships?”, and “Will it be beneficial
to all concerned?” The situations I described earlier are light, and
may seem insignificant. But really, if one gets used to using the 4-
Way Test in less complicated situations, they will be more prepared
for complex ones. I’m going to try harder from now on to use these
four simple steps to help me in whatever I do, especially when it
comes to how I deal with my brother. So I guess there may be a cure
for the horrible problem known as sibling rivalry, and I bet the out-
come of using the 4-Way Test will bring un-4-gettable results.

Running Into a New Experience

Rotary Club of Pismo Beach / Five Cities
Sean Pringle, Second Place
Grade 10, High School Division
Ms. Derbidge, Arroyo Grande High School

Prior to my sophomore year on the cross country team, I had never
seen my health at risk.  Yet, as it turned out, an activity in which I en-
joyed performing the most, would lead to some of the most difficult
decisions of my life.  In a truly unique way, these choices led me to
discovering a new part of myself that continues to guide me toward a
prosperous future.
This condition first appeared in September of 2007.  After finishing
a race in Clovis, I felt a faint dizziness.  It was as if my head was spin-
ning furiously, and I couldn’t stop it.  After an hour, the weariness
ended, but the condition did not.  Upon experiencing the same result
at the end of two more races, my cross country coach advised me to
consult a doctor.  That is when I decided to inform my parents about
this peculiar matter, and they took me to receive an  electrocardio-
gram at the Arroyo Grande Hospital.  The results: I had low blood
pressure and perhaps an enlarged heart.  For further testing, I went to
Sierra Vista Medical Center in San Luis Obispo.  After going through
a series of additional tests, I waited anxiously for two days, anticipat-
ing the test results.  To my relief, I did not have an overly large heart,
although my caring personality says otherwise, and my low blood
pressure was a result of the intense cardiovascular exercise I was
receiving from running.  However, it was during this time of anxiety
and anticipation that I witnessed all four aspects of the Four-Way
Test.
The first question of the Four-Way Test emerged out of my own self-
denial.  As running seemed to be a passion of mine, I never expected
it to cause such a detrimental effect on me.  As a result, I overlooked
the truth behind the reason for my condition.  I also failed to be truth-
ful to my family.  I waited to tell my parents about my “fainting experi-
ence” until it had occurred multiple times, and after my coach advised
me to get a check up.  Failing to tell the truth both to myself and the
people closest to me was a mistake that the Four-Way Test has
taught me never to do again.
While I waited for the hospital results, many thoughts flashed before
me concerning my cross country team members, my family, and even
myself.  My first concern was the effect that the results would have on
my future cross country running.  Would I still be able to participate on
the team?  As I thought of  this, I wondered whether I would be able
to go to future cross country meets  to race.  Would it be fair to desert
the other cross country members when I was concerned with my own
well-being?  I also took into account the response of my family.

Divine Friendships

Rotary Club of Pismo Beach / Five Cities
Cheyenne Bartlett, Third Place
Grade 9, High School Division
Mrs. Bishop, Arroyo Grande High School

George Eliot once said, “Perhaps the most delightful friendships are
those in which there is much agreement, much disputation, and yet
more personal liking.”  These delightful friendships adhere to the 4-
Way Test.  The 4-Way Test consists of four questions, ”Is it the
truth?”  “Is it fair to all concerned?”  “Will it build good will and better
friendships?”  “Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”  If everyone ap-
plied these questions to their life, most everyone would have better
friendships.  The 4-Way Test encourages relationships, increases
trust and helps alleviate problems.
This test is promising to relationships if we share the truth with oth-
ers.  First of all, Kahill Gibran quoted, “Truth is a deep kindness that
teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the peo-
ple the same happiness.”  Truth needs to be shared with other people
so they can have happiness also.  If we keep that happiness to our-
selves, our happiness will not rub off on anyone.  Second of all, it is
one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults.  “So
to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him and to
speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship,” said
Henry Ward Beecher.  True friends tell each other everything, even
faults.  It is helpful to the relationship if they are truthful, that way the
friend can fix whatever is wrong.  In conclusion, truthful friends make
for a better relationship.
The 4-Way Test also supplements trust through the truth and listen-
ing.  For example, David Hume once said, “Truth springs from an ar-
gument amongst friends.”  If a dispute arises with a friend, eventually
the truth will start to show.  Arguments usually include what people
don’t like about each other and that must mean the truth.  For in-
stance, Rachel Naomi Remen once stated,  “The most basic and
powerful way to connect to another person is to listen.  Just  listen.
Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our at-
tention…A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to con-
nect than the most well-intentioned words.”  If one just listens to their
friend it will show that they want to hear what the friend has to say.
Silence shows that there is a desire for a better friendship.  Therefore,
if one is to aspire for a better relationship, they need to speak the
truth and hear what the other person has to say. to them so they can
fix it.
If a friend is being gossiped about or insulted by others, this test will
help.  To begin with, Ecclesiastes 6:14 states, “A faithful friend is a
strong defense; and he that hath found such a one hath found a treasure.”

Friends who are very allegiant will stand up for you in a
bad situation.  If they are true friends they will not have to question if
they are doing the right thing. Similarly, as in a personal experience of
mine, a person once came up to me when I was younger and insulted
me saying that I had something wrong with me, but my friend stepped
in and told him that he was rude to say that.  Even when I was being
insulted, she did not just stand there and watch, she actually did
something about it.  From then on our friendship has been abiding.
Henceforth, true friends will assist you in your times of trouble.
As a result, although friendships require many things to make them
a lasting correspondence, if you desire to have a better relationship
with someone, you will apply the 4-Way Test to your life and you will
have surpassing friendships.  The 4-Way Test can help in many dif-
ferent ways to build up friendships and trust.  Don’t wait to be a better
friend.  “The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend.  I
have no wealth to bestow on him.  If he knows that I am happy in lov-
ing him, he will want no other reward.  Is not friendship divine in this?”
Henry David Thoreau.

The Four Way Test and Me

Rotary Club of Pismo Beach / Five Cities
Kara Scott, Third Place
Grade 11, High School Division
Mrs. Hoover , Arroyo Grande High School

To be honest, I have never even heard of the Four Way Test. About
three days ago my literature teacher assigned the class an essay on
it. It was a mandatory assignment that I didn’t even plan on writing. I
have always questioned my actions, of course, but never in this way.
How was I supposed to write a past experience on something that
never happened? I wasn’t going to make it up, and I’m not a very
good writer. I just figured I would get an alternate assignment or
something, until last night. I was put in the perfect position to put
these questions to use.
I am sixteen years old and I usually consider myself to be a fairly
responsible person. I wasn’t getting along with my mother last night
and I was feeling trapped. I needed to get out. A couple of guys
called me and invited me to a party. Now, I’ve never really been the
partying type, but when I realized that nothing exciting was going to
happen that night, I accepted the invitation. Once we got there, a
dark-haired girl introduced herself. Her name was Jennifer. I shook
her hand and told her that it was nice to meet her. She immediately
asked for my ID. Nervously, I informed her that I didn’t have it on me.
I told her she had nothing to worry about and that I was definitely
eighteen. All I wanted was to have a good time, yet I felt very low and
disgusted in myself for lying to her.
I asked myself, “Is this the truth?” No, I’m sixteen years old and I’m
a junior in high school. I get good grades and I do my chores. I
wouldn’t be caught dead at a party, but I couldn’t tell her that. She
handed me a cold beer out of the bathtub, which had been filled with
ice and a couple of twenty four packs. I started to drink it, though I
hated the dry, tart taste. Then I questioned myself again, “Is this fair
to all concerned?” Of course not, I am a minor at a party with people
over the age of twenty-one who I have never even seen before. I was
putting not only myself in a bad position, but everyone else also.
Then, a guy that was at least six years older that I am, sat by me. At
first, he asked me to do things I wasn’t comfortable with, but I wasn’t
paying attention so he started telling me. I assured him that I didn’t
want to. He kicked everyone out of the house and told me to dance
for him. I said no countless amount of times, but he insisted. He
yelled at me, and asked me why I even came. He wouldn’t leave me
alone, and then he pulled me off the couch to make me dance. I sat
back down and thought, Would it build good will and better friend-
ships?” No, the only kind of person you are going to meet at a place
like that is somebody you don’t need to.

Finally, I got up, but not to dance. I grabbed my cell phone so I could
ask my boyfriend to come get me, though I knew he’d be disap-
pointed. The man took my phone and wouldn’t let me leave. I
pushed him back, pulled my phone out of his hands, and headed for
the door. He tried to grab me, so I yanked my arm back and hit my
elbow on the wall behind me. I opened the door as fast as I could
and slammed it shut as I stormed out. As I walked away, I knew ex-
actly the kinds of things he was saying about me. I sat on the curb
out front, where I could still hear the shaky sound of his intoxicated
voice, and the bass of the stereo in the background, shaking the win-
dows of the house. The music was so loud I almost couldn’t hear
myself think. I slid my phone open to dial my boyfriend’s number
when I remembered something. I still had one question left. I picked
at the rubber on the bottom of my shoe and I thought, “Is this benefi-
cial to all concerned?” Yes, there was no doubt in my mind. I knew
at that moment that I needed to do at least one thing right for the
night. I dialed the number as fast as I could until I heard his worried
voice on the other line. I waited in the cold, midnight breeze when he
pulled up in the driveway. I didn’t tell him what happened, and he
didn’t ask. He knew I didn’t want to discuss it. As I got out of the car,
I kissed him and told him how much I appreciated it. I snuck inside
and slid into my bed. I was disappointed with myself, but I learned
from my mistake. I woke up this morning feeling nauseous, but I
couldn’t miss the bus. I drug myself out of bed and threw on some
clean clothes. Now I’m sitting here, as tired as ever, writing this es-
say in Saturday school, a well deserved punishment.

4-Way Test

Rotary Club of Pismo Beach / Five Cities
Stevie Sullivan, Second Place
Grade 11, High School Division
Mrs. Hoover, AGHS

Nine months ago I was diagnosed with anorexia and a moderate form of depression. ME, the girl who had it all—the grades, the friends, basically the life in general. How did I get going sideways? And why would I throw away a life that seemed so perfect? Those were the kinds of questions people were asking me—my parents, the therapists, my best friends and even my ex-boyfriend. At the time, even I didn’t know what I was doing or why I was doing it. I realize now that my “perfect” life had been turned upside down my sophomore year, and my eating disorder was a cry for help. Life threw me a curve ball, and at the time that was my only way to cope. Unfortunately, I hurt a lot of people along the way trying to save myself.
Most people who have eating disorders have something called an “anorexic self.” My new self was all the things that I chose not to be when I was healthy. She was critical, she was sarcastic, she was manipulative, and insensitive; but in a lot of ways she was my best friend and the only one who truly knew what I was going through. When she was running the show she’d say things like “Don’ eat the cheese, it’ll make you fat!” and “You don’t need that cookie girl, show some self control!” I was foolish enough to believe that she was looking out for me and my body. I thought she was there to help me get the attention I wanted from all the people in my life including whatever boy I may have been crushing on at the time. I thought that guys wanted “model skinny” girls for girlfriends but I couldn’t have been more wrong. At a conference last July, a specialist told me that when I hear my “critical-self voice” I need to stop and ask myself if what she’s saying is true. If my initial response is yes, “Can I be absolutely certain that it’s true?” Most of the time that answer is no…So I asked myself, would my friends still like me if I wasn’t thin? Well yeah; they liked me before, right? And after I eat a bowl of ice-cream am I fat? No, I look exactly the same as I did 5 bowls of ice-cream ago. For the first time I understood how my critical self thinks. When I started to focus on the truth and pay less attention to her, she stopped antagonizing me. Now I’m back in the driver’s seat, and my fate health wise is in my hands.
Was it fair to all concerned? No! I hurt my family just as much, or more, than I hurt myself. My Dad told me recently that it made him want to cry just looking at me last summer. I was wasting away before his eyes, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Both my parents read book after book about eating disorders, they found me the best help in the area, my mom cooked for me three times a day everyday, and they pulled me out of school to make my recovery as easy on me as possible. I’m not proud of the way I acted, and I wish I could find a way to show them how sorry I am. At the time I felt like they were trying to ruin my life. Now, I look back and appreciate everything they’ve done for me. If there were such at thing as a “Parent of the Year Award,” they’d have it in the bag!
Having an eating disorder made things a lot harder with friends. For the first time in my life I felt out of place and uncomfortable in social situations. I didn’t know what to say or how to act because I didn’t feel like myself anymore. When I was sick, I wasn’t building good will or better friendships. If anything, my eating disorder destroyed some of the relationships I already had with the people I cared about most. I stayed home on the weekends, and I sat in a classroom at lunch. I felt misunderstood and alone. I’ve never been a competitive person, but I found myself comparing my body to the bodies of every other girl. I was determined to be the fittest, the toughest, and the best looking. Everything was about winning, but eventually I realized that I was so busy trying to be the best that I was missing out on all the fun. My true friends stuck it out with me, and those girls are very dear to my heart. I will cherish those friendships for the rest of my life, and so it turns out that I did build better friendships through it all.
Fortunately, I got a lot out of a really painful experience. Now that I’m healthy again, my mom and dad are two of my best friends, I spend my time doing the things that make me happy, and I enjoy food more than I ever have before. From the roughest times of my life came gifts greater than I ever could’ve dreamed of. I received the gift of wisdom, the gift of maturity, the gift of much needed love, the gift of gratitude and the greatest gift of all, a deeper understanding of myself and my purpose as a human being. So, was it beneficial to all concerned? In the long run yes, I think we all learned a lot from my journey; but I wouldn’t recommend taking the road I chose to inner peace.
One of the most important things I’ve learned, is that it’s my responsibility to show the rest of the world how I deserve to be treated. If I can’t be kind to myself, I can’t expect anyone else to be kind to me. A body is just an earth suit, and its sole purpose is to carry me from one experience to the next. My body does not define me, and the people who matter most will love me for who I am inside. I know I may have applied the 4-Way Test in an unconventional way, but it just goes to show that it really can be applied to any situation.

(Untitled)

Rotary Club of Pismo Beach / Five Cities
Jeff Mooney, Third Place
Grade 11, High School Division
Mrs. Hoover, AGHS

A wise man once said, “stick to your guns”. Although this phrase can mean many different things, I believe that it has a universal meaning, that is, don’t ever let any situation make you forget your morals. The 4-Way Test is so similar to the quote, that I couldn’t believe I was going to have the chance to write about something I have such a passion for.

If only the government had known about the 4-Way Test during WWII. In school, we are learning about the camps that the Japanese Americans were sent to. The government assumed that many of the Japanese Americans were spies. They were taken from their homes, and only allowed one bag for their possessions. Many people became sick in the camps because of the horrifically terrible living conditions.

The 4-Way Test would not have been a good prevention plan, but a perfect one. Is it the truth? No, none of the Japanese Americans that were thought to be spies were ever proven to be. Is it fair to all concerned? Once again, the answer is no. It is completely immoral and unjust to pull someone from their home and send them to a camp. In many cases, the Japanese Americans lost all of their possessions, including their homes, even when they were let out of the camps. The third question of the 4-Way Test, “will it build good will and better friendships?” The decision to put the alleged spies in camps did not cause good will or create better friendships. The only thing it did, in the form of relationships, was stir up racist feelings from both Americans and Japanese Americans. The last question, “will it be beneficial to all concerned?” No, absolutely nothing was solved by putting innocent people in prison camps.

It is such a sad thing, because if the government had only applied the 4-Way Test, the whole situation could have been avoided. I know that I will be more careful with my decision making in the future and be sure to always keep the 4-Way Test in mind.

Saying Goodbye to the Past

Rotary Club of Pismo Beach / Five Cities
Brendan Pringle, First Place
Grade 11, High School Division
AGHS

Although a senescent, tarnished moped may not seem like an object of value, my family considered our 1980 moped a member of the family. To my father, it symbolized the beginning of a newfound freedom and the advent of a brand-new lifestyle. After marriage, my parents took weekly trips on the Puch to enjoy the freshness of their youth. With the arrival of six beautiful children, the moped changed its function to suit family life. One of the most vivid moments of my childhood involved sitting in front of my dad on the worn leather cushion, grasping the rusty handle, the wind pounding against my shirt as we accelerated into the distance. Every Sunday afternoon, my dad would take turns with each of us for a thrilling ride around the block. I recall every single one of my siblings waiting in almost desperate anticipation for their turn to “go for a ride with Daddy on the moped”. These memories ended abruptly on one cold, Sunday night, as the moped was torn permanently from our lives. The thief of the Puch failed in all facts of the 4-Way Test, as he/she committed a crime far beyond material possessions, stealing hours of delight and exhilaration from my whole family, and a gleaming symbol of the past.
This criminal gazed over the first and most crucial question of the 4-Way Test—”Is it the truth?”, or in other words, “Is it true that I deserve to take possession of this bike?” An old moped is not required to sustain the life of a person in any way. It is only made for occasional rides, not to permanently take the place of a vehicle. Therefore, it was an act of personal desire and excessive gain, not necessity. Secondly, stealing is never the truth under any circumstances. Lying is ominously present in the act of theft, as one is directly deceived by the criminal in his wrongful accruement of a possession.
Beyond this, the thief neglected to acknowledge the unfairness of the theft. This crime was unfair to every single person in my family. Both my mother and father lost a bike that was reminiscent of their glory days, including the abundance of free time that they once had to themselves. My siblings and I felt as though our Sunday afternoon would never be the same again. We could not easily overcome the loss of excitement that we had looked forward to every weekend. Additionally, it is unfair that the criminal was not caught for the sake of society. In understanding the psychology of a thief, one could truthfully say that the thief will repeat his offense. Therefore, the concept of fairness was virtually nonexistent throughout the whole crime.
This crime did not build good will and better friendships. My whole family experienced the loss of something special to them, a major impasse to the creation of a basic fraternal relationship. Every single one of us rued the act of injustice committed against us, and was bitter about this loss, including my six-year old brother. This crime did not distance my family, but the presence and further utilization of this special vehicle would have veritably created an even closer bond between my sister, brothers, and parents. Suddenly, and unexpectedly, a symbol of brotherly love had been tragically taken in silence, leaving us with utter resentment.
As a result, the criminal did not benefit from the action. Correction was not provided to change his moral state. In contrast, I have used the 4-Way Test in recent years to reflect upon this incident in a new light. It would be untrue and unfair for the thief if I did not express forgiveness. Also, resentment toward the thief would not be beneficial to anyone, and moreover, would impede the establishment of good will and better friendships.
In today’s society, criminal justice is meant to treat the psychological issues of a criminal in using the principles of Adlerian therapy on a minute scale. In punishing individuals with a fee or through directed counseling, they are more inclined to change their ways. However, in the case of an anonymous criminal, lessons are skipped and change is impossible. Usage of the Rotary Club motto, “Service Above Self’ was implausible due to the concealed nature of the crime. The 4-Way test, if utilized in the decision-making process, can ultimately prevent crime in premature sense.