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Priscilla Diaz
Mrs. Shebley
BCAL Service Learning
1 March 2016
Personal Code of Ethics
Often times, when children are growing up, they learn about different rules that they have
to follow. For example, children at elementary schools learn to be quiet when the teacher is
talking and they learn to do their homework as well. Something similar occurs when people
volunteer at an organization. They learn a specific code of ethics. The five major ethical
standards that are most important to me are integrity, honesty, respect, kindness, and effective
communication. These are the values that make any organization successful. In the following
essay, I will discuss 1) what each of these ethical standards are, 2) what influences have lead me
to believe this, 3) why its important to have a code of ethics, 3) a specific example of an ethical
dilemma, and 4) where this leaves me in Kohlbergs theory of moral reasoning.
First, I will define each of these five ethical standards, beginning with integrity.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, integrity is defined as the quality of being honest
and fair (Merriam-Webster, 2015). This is needed in all organizations to ensure that people are
treated with justice. The next value that goes along very well with integrity is honesty. As stated
in the Cambridge Dictionary, honesty is described as telling the truth or able to be trusted and
not likely to steal, cheat, or lie (Cambridge University Press, 2016). Why is this quality essential
in all organizations? Honesty is necessary because it moves people to act in a way that is ethical.

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It pushes employees and volunteers to always do the right thing and, as stated above, to never lie,
cheat, or steal. The third part of the code of ethics is respect. As said in the Learners Dictionary,
respect means a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, ()
and should be treated in an appropriate way (Merriam-Webster Incorporated, 2016). This is
necessary in any organization as well so that every individual is treated with dignity and
everything can flow with good organization. This leads us to the value of kindness. Some
synonyms of kindness are benignity, benevolence, humanity, generosity, charity, sympathy,
compassion, and tenderness (Dictionary.com, 2016). These are the qualities that help people
maintain a good code of ethics. Lastly, the value that we will define is effective communication.
Effective communication is defined as verbal speech or other methods of relaying information
that get a point across (YourDictionary.com, 2016).
Now that we know each of these ethical standards, Id like to discuss what influences
have led me to believe that these values are most important. The biggest area of my life that has
shaped this code of ethics is my religion. As one of Jehovahs Witnesses, I have always been
taught to love my neighbors, my friends, my family, and everyone around me. I have also learned
about moral standards in the Bible that motivate me to be an honest, fair, and respectful person.
My parents have also raised me with these great moral standards. They have taught me to always
be upfront with people and have effective communication with others. With the help of my
parents, I have aspired to always act in accordance with this excellent code of ethics.
Why is important to have a personal code of ethics? As I have continued to grow and
years have passed, I have learned that having a code of ethics is like having a compass. A code of
ethics can serve as guidance in ones life. It can help us make decisions, even when we are facing
moral dilemmas. One specific occasion when my moral compass helped me to be a better person

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occurred not too long ago. I was at my service learning volunteer site and the supervisor signed
an extra day that I had been there. Some teenagers may have reasoned that filling in an extra day
would help finish service learning hours earlier in the year. Even so, I remembered that one of
my ethical standards is honesty and, the other is integrity. Cheating and filling in hours for a day
that I had not volunteered, would not be ethical. Therefore, I let the supervisor know what
mistake she had made. I assured her I would not use the extra signature that she had written.
Instead, I told her I would fill it in the next time that I volunteered.
After writing this paper, I learned that I have advanced in Kohlbergs theory of moral
reasoning. I am no longer at the first pre-conventional level that one surpasses in elementary
school. I have learned to obey authority and be my own individual. I have also learned that I
have proceeded past the conventional level. I have learned to recognize the authority of the law
and how to accept obligations such as work, school, and family obligations. A few weeks ago, I
believed to be on the third level of Kohlbergs theory which is the post-conventional level.
However, now after analyzing my personal code of ethics, I found that I have completed
Kohlbergs theory of moral development. I have fulfilled my demand for an individual
conscience. This code of ethics has defined not only my conscience, but who I have become as a
person.
In conclusion, throughout this paper, I have realized that I have developed my own
personal code of ethics. Due to the great influence of my religion and my parents, my five ethical
standards are integrity, honesty, respect, kindness, and effective communication. These are the
values that allow me to be a better person and be successful in any organization that I choose to
volunteer in. These codes of ethics have allowed me to further develop in Kohlbergs theory of

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moral development. I hope that in the future they continue to help me solve moral dilemmas and
always make the right decision.

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Works Cited
Cambridge University Press. (2016). Honest. Retrieved March 1, 2016, from Cambridge
Dictionaries Online: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/honest
Dictionary.com. (2016). Kindness. Retrieved March 4, 2016, from Dictionary.references:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/kindness
Merriam-Webster. (2015). Integrity. Retrieved March 1, 2016, from Merriam-Webster:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity
Merriam-Webster Incorporated. (2016). Respect. Retrieved March 1, 2016, from Learner's
Dictionary: http://learnersdictionary.com/definition/respect
YourDictionary.com. (2016). Effective communication. Retrieved March 4, 2016, from Your
dictionary: http://www.yourdictionary.com/effective-communication