David Tran 

American Literature H, Block 2

Mrs. Fujii

9 April 2014

                                                                Personal Philosophy 

It was not until last summer I had not realized how rude I always was. Last summer I went to a wrestling camp that surprisingly very strict on manners. You were pretty much allowed to goof around and mess with people but as long as you said "please" and "thank you". My parents were never too strict about manners at home so I did not really use manners a lot. So when I arrived at this camp I learned manners were something big there and there would be punishment if you did not have manners. That was when I realized I was kind of rude all the time. I could not remember when the last time I told someone “thank you” was. This was an eye opener because I had always thought “please” and “thank you” was a given at all times and I always had that rule in my head but I never did say them. Now I realize how many things I have taken for granted. Do not take things for granted because some may not be as fortunate as you.

           I learned to not take things for granted because it could make a big difference.  No one really has to do anything for you yet they choose too. Do not take that for granted because things might change. The waiter who brought you food didn’t have to be nice; they could have just dropped it off and left. The Wells Fargo employees don’t have to be that friendly, but it makes people happier. Nobody really has to do anything, but they do it still. I learned to not take things for granted.

           I am also thankful for everything I have. Not everyone has a lap top or TV. Some countries do not even have clean water. Not everyone is getting an education. Some kids in school do not even care. They taking education for granted. It is annoying to me to see that happen. Sure I am not the best student but I still care about education and I am thankful for it. Everything I have I am thankful for because I am lucky enough to have what I have and those things affect me every day as a person which is why this is important to me and why I am thankful for it.

           Even though saying “please” and “thank you” is easy to remember sometimes we neglect to say it sometimes. My wrestling coach at the summer camp would always say “How much does it cost to use your manners?” The answer was nothing. It is free. So why not use them all the time and be polite to everyone? It will not take that much effort to use your manners. That could be a big difference in one person’s day. If we are thankful for everything everyone would theoretically be nicer and happier. So why not be thankful?