Integrity

1,2,3,4 you can count on me,

Because I am a person of great integrity.

I try to make the right choice in everything I do.

1,2,3,4 you can count on me.

by Becky Muncy

This month we have been singing a song called “Integrity” in my music classes in elementary school.  We have been talking about what integrity means.  I was inspired to write the song “Integrity” due to something that happened to me when I was in the 6th grade.

I grew in a wonderful community called Latonia. Everyone was hard working middle class folks.  The elementary school I attended was just two blocks from our home – Eighth District School.  Every day I walked to and from school with a group of friends.  We happily chatted about the days events as we walked and talked.

One spring day in April, we were on our daily journey home and noticed a lot of green leaves blowing down the street.  After picking up a few of the green “leaves” we discovered they were $10 and $20 dollar bills totaling a few hundred dollars.  This was a small fortune to a group of preteens. 

I can honestly tell you that our first and only thought was to take the money to our principal, Mr. Dupin. We immediately ran back to school after collecting the money, and gave it to Mr. Dupin.  He called the police and found that a neighbor lady, Mrs. Feldman had reported losing the money.

My friends and I were thrilled to get our picture in the paper for our good deed. We felt happy that we had returned the money to it’s rightful owner. 

The dictionary defines integrity as “The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness” 

 “Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching” is a good motto to live by.  I hope this is s life skill that I can live by and help to instill in my students!