People have different maturity when it comes to moral development.

I have seen the proof of it while

we were answering the morality test of our ethics subject just this month. In that morality test, the stage
of moral development where an individual belong can be identified; it might not be accurate but it can
be closer to that. While we were checking our answers and Sir Porras revealed that each answers have
corresponding stages, I have realized that age, sexual orientation (gender) and other biological factor
cannot affect the person's moral development. As what Sir Porras have said, there are people who are
already old but their mindset or morality is still in stage one wherein they don't and do things to avoid
punishments and get rewards. So childish, right? Thus, moral development varies in every person. After
we evaluate our papers, I was surprised that my answers were in stage 2, 4, 5 and 6. I was asking myself
if it's really me who answered that and how did that happen. However, I remembered one experience
regarding to this stages that I have.

I was a drumcorp member during my junior high days. Our school always join the drumcorp competition
every year causing us to practice almost everyday three months before the competition. The drumcorp
coordinator was so strict in terms of lates and absences of each members because the school were
aiming for the gold and everyone was rooting for us to get the cash prize.

One of the days of our practice, our mother majorette and one of the triple drummer, these two were
my classmates back then, came to the practice 3 hours late; it was their first late though. We were able
to repeat the routines for 4 times already when they arrived. Being a mother majorette is a big role
since you will be the one who will lead the whole group. There are commands in the routine that can
only be commanded by the mother majorette. So, my two classmates apologized to the coordinator.
Our coordinator accepted the apology however when he knew the reason why they were so late, he got
angry. He thought that it was a measly reason for them to come to the practice late. The practice weigh
so much more than the reason they had. With that, they got punished. It was still hot since it was 3
o'clock in the afternoon that time. We were practicing in an open field. They were asked to the do the
routine alone and for 4 times, just the two of them, while all other members will just rest and watch
since we've already done 4 rehearsal. They did what the coordinator said but I can saw the tears of my
classmates while they were rehearsing alone. The drummer played alone while the mother majorette
danced alone. I knew what the coordinator wants to relay to us. HE DOESN'T WANT ANY EXCUSES. And
the purpose of the punishment? Well, for them to be ashamed and embarrassed of what they've done.

Just by looking at my classmates performing alone in front of many people, pity took over me. I want to
tell the coordinator to make them stop because it was disreputable. I can't imagined myself being
punished like that cause if I was, I will not have a face to show anymore after the punishment. However,
I was too afraid to go over and ask the coordinator to stop; I wasn't bold enough. That's why I planned
to do something. Luckily, the other drumcorp members had the same feeling that I feel. So, the three
majorette, including me, stood up and walk towards the mother majorette and we danced with her. Yes,
we danced with her, we accompanied her in her punishment. While I was dancing, I was looking eagerly
to our coordinator saying to myself, "if you punish her, you might as well punish us all." Slowly the other
members joined us and together we took their punishment. When the coordinator saw what we were
doing he told us to stop and rehearse properly from the top. So that's when it's over and the mother
majorette just hugged us for she was grateful.
With that experience, I can say it's the same to the stage of moral development that I am in when I
answered Mang Juanito's case. I wasn't afraid to take any punishment that's why I went to my plan and
accompanied my classmate. I know she had done something wrong but it's very unjust for her and the
other one to be punished and embarrassed like that. It's proper to punish them for discipline purposes
but punishing them in front of many people is just inhumane for me. The coordinator could have
punished them privately; not like that. Furthermore, I wasn't able to get a hold of myself knowing
someone is suffering emotionally because of the embarrassment. I mean, it's too much for a
punishment. He can discipline them in some other ways. And besides, it was only their first time to
arrived so late. That's why we did those action even though I can be scolded too, the punishment was
just inappropriate for me. I know that our coordinator regretted what je had done because he acted out
of anger; I can saw it in his eyes. Knowing him, he loves us dearly that's why what he had done was a
result of extreme emotion.

I react to things like that because when I was a child my mom told me to always empathize. She taught
me how to see myself in the shoes of others. She doesn't tell me to do better in school so that I will have
rewards. She will not tell me to not do this and that or else I'll be scolded. What she will tell me is I
should do good for the better and I should avoid this(bad things) cause it's wrong. And I believe it's one
of the factors why I am in this stage. Doing things for the betterment of everyone gave me a different
kind of fulfillment. I always believe that no one should suffer from unjust acts and judgment because I
know every action has reasons. It may not be important to you but it can be a life-saver to others. My
point is, we should not respond to situations wherein we only base it from the action itself. We have to
see the bigger picture. See things from a bigger perspective. If we want to grow morally, we should
widen our minds and thoughts. We have to be flexible and bold enough to accept punishment. We must
ceased to exist in a self centered soul.