Overview

Excellence is the pinnacle of SF CORE. It is the culmination of all the preceding five values: Self-discipline, Personal Integrity, Care and Concern, Openness, and Responsibility. We can build an excellent society only when we, as individuals, practice excellence in our own lives.

Excellence is not
an act but a habit.

Aristotle

Why excellence?

     Why do we need to be excellent? Why can't I just be best? Excellence is the last topic in character education and it is the most important. (Save the best for last). All of us should try to achieve excellence. We should force ourselves to do the best we can. We must try to become the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be. Only then can we truly say that we are excellent. 
     Why is it so difficult to achieve excellence? This is normally because, in order to achieve excellence, one must make sacrifices like time. A lot of hard work must be put in. One must be prepared to put in a lot of efforts. It is quite rare to see excellent people but we should always try to be like them. If we can't reach excellence, then perhaps best is better than nothing. Read about 2 people who have achieved excellence below.

Kerri Strug, Gymnast - USA

     At the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta, US gymnastic team held slim lead over Russia in team competition for gold.Kern was injured seriously as she had twisted her ankle at the end of vault running.  She was in great pain. The gold medal was slipping away. Her teammates urged her on, not knowing how badly she had been injured. She cried out to her coach that she was in pain. Coach said, 'We need another vault.' II will, I will.' She responded, gritting her teeth.  She told herself, 'Just do the vault.' And she did. She sprinted, threw herself into the air, twisted, and landed - perfectly! Her ankle held its place on the mat for a second before giving way.  The US team won gold! After the event her coach said, "I never thought Kerri would be able to do it. She was never the roughest, toughest girl in the team."  But how did she do it?

     Kerri was able to do it because she knew what she wanted. She knew that the gold was very important to her teammates and herself. She did not want the silver, she wanted the best, gold. As a result, Kerri strived for excellence and she got it.

Helen Keller American Author and Educator

     By severe illness, at the age of 19 months she became blind and deaf. Soon she became mute too.  At age 6, her parents approached Alexander G. Bell for help regarding her education. She began her education in 1887 under Anne Mansfield Sullivan, a graduate of Perkins School for the Blind. Sullivan was herself blind but was partially cured. Sullivan taught Helen by pressing manual alphabet into her palm. Helen learned to 'speak' by placing her fingers on Sullivan's larynx to 'hear' the vibration.  Later Helen learned to read and write in Braille. She graduated with honors from Radcliffe College. Helen devoted her whole life to helping the deaf and blind. She toured the world to help promote education of the deaf and blind.  She wrote many books including 'The Story of My Life' and 'Helen Keller's journal'. What makes such a severely handicapped person achieve so much more than an ordinary healthy person. 

    Helen was able to do all this because she wanted to do help others who are also blind. She understand what it is like to be blind, how helpless one is. So, having learnt some skills, Helen wanted to make life better for the others by helping them. Helen had a goal and she was determined to accomplished it. She had achieve excellence. Thinking of it, isn't is amazing that someone who is blind can produce books to inspire others?

Benefits of excellence

Personal

1) Self-satisfaction. When you know you have achieve the best you can, won't you feel that damn good?

2) A sense of achievement

3) Sense of well-being

4) Happiness

5) Peace of mind

School

1) Good academic results

2) Respect from peers and lecturers

3) Healthy relationship

4) Ability to help others

5) Sense of well-being

Family

1) Love

2) Harmony

3) Sense of belonging

4) Warm relationship

5) Appreciation

Work

1) Efficiency

2) Productivity

3) Success

     As you can see, being excellence has lots of advantages. Once again, although it is hard to achieve, it is a most fulfilling quality.

Conclusion

     This concludes the SKC character education website. I hope that you have learnt something from here. From how to be caring to how to be excellent. Remember, character education is important. A person is judged on his character. Whether you will succeed in life depends on your character. Thanks for your time. Please tell more people about the Siu Kai Character Education Website. To find out more about Siu Kai, you can visit my homepage at http://www,siukai.cjb.net