I believe in Being Polite and Having Manners

I believe in being polite and having manners.

I was raised to always be kind to everyone, even if I didn’t know or like them. I was taught to say please and thank you, no problem, you're welcome, hello, how are you, nice to meet you, etc. My parents always emphasized the importance of manners and politeness. They said, “Make sure to say please and thank you!’ or “Introduce yourself.” It became a habit that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

I do my best to live up to the expectations every day that my parents and I have for myself. I have been trying since I was young and learned the value of kindness. Every day, whether or not I am at my best, I try. Even just small things can make a big difference, like holding the door, a small compliment, or just smiling at someone, can make someone feel better, because you never know what they’re going through. It helped me too. When I first joined Sandy Spring Friends School, I was nervous, but my mom told me, “You’ll be fine, you just have to be open and polite to people,” and so I did. I started talking and complimenting people I had never spoken to a day in my life. And even though it was scary, it all paid off. Not only was I very nice and polite, but others did the same for me. I remember getting dropped off on my first day and I was just standing alone, until someone waved and said hi to me. It made me feel welcomed and seen. It helped me gain more confidence. I ended up making friends that I hope to have for a long time. 

It’s important to me that I’m kind to everyone because it doesn’t feel right if I’m not, and I know it doesn’t feel good to feel disrespected or unseen. This is why I believe that manners and politeness, along with being kind, are a fundamental value that I cherish.