Character Corner: Cadet learns important lessons through honor probation

  • Published
  • By Cadet 1st Class Robert Mobley
  • Cadet Squadron 37
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  My name is Cadet 1st Class Robert Mobley and I am a Class of 2009 cadet at the Air Force Academy. I am still here because I committed a violation of the honor code last semester. I was very fortunate to be granted the privilege and opportunity to serve on honor probation. 

While most people think that honor probation is a very hard ordeal that takes away one's liberty to go out into town, listen to music and watch movies, I believe that it is something much more than that. For me, it has been something that has taught me some of the most important lessons I have ever learned, and I would like to take a moment to share them with you. 

I think one of the most important things, and also maybe one of the hardest things, I have learned thus far is that I can and do make mistakes. I have a type-A personality, and I am a very high achiever. I had a hard time accepting the fact that I made a mistake, a huge mistake that has affected the rest of my life, but I do know that it does make all of the difference on how we handle ourselves and what we learn after we make our mistakes. A person who can accept that he or she has made a mistake and make every effort possible to learn and correct themselves from their mistake is a person who exhibits good character. 

Another thing I have learned from probation is that the most important thing we have as human beings is our character, integrity and reputation. Once we die, this is what will be used to judge us by those who have survived us. It is important that we protect these things with all that we have. No one can take them away from you but you. It can take a lifetime to build the perfect character, reputation,and integrity but only a second to destroy it. 

One other thing I have learned while on probation is that character building is a lifelong event.I do not think that we ever reach the point when we can say, "I am a person of perfect character." As evident in the book "Character is Destiny" by Russell W. Gough, we must always evaluate our character, and we must always be willing to adjust it for the better. I think that probation has provided me a wonderful opportunity to learn this and to develop wonderful habits such as journaling and reflecting to do exactly this.