Values

I like to think of my values system as being not necessarily coming from religion that I was brought up with, but coming from what I personally think is right or wrong. Everyone generally has their own belief system and most of the time that can actually come from the people that they're around every day. Someone who is used to being able to swear in front of their parents, may not know anything else and even though it is a very disrespectful thing to do-might do it in front of their friend's parents.
With that being said, I do value my moral integrity. I don't swear in front of adults because I find that is very disrespectful. But I have noticed as I got older (my mom is a habitual swearer-don't tell her I said that on a public blog) that it has become harder to hold it back in. Why? Because I am so used to hearing it constantly from my parents, my friends, music, media, you name it-its there. Except church. Which I don't go to anymore. Speaking of church. I was raised in a Christain household at my dad's house and I also went to a non-denominational (pretty much christain) middle school. That doesn't mean that I value religion in my every day life. That's something I don't value because who am I to say that my "god" is right while the people of India's are wrong?
Also a major value of mine is that I NEVER pick up the aweful habit of smoking cigarettes (my mother is also a smoker-please don't judge and think she's a bad person, these are just facts of life). I've never been a partier either- I pretty much refuse to drink or do drugs. Not because I judge other people who do them or because I "have such a perfect life I'll ruin everything". No. Because I personally think that morally there is no point for ME to do them. Maybe its the "religion" in me or maybe its just because I've always been a little bit more mature. I'm sorry, I actually like to remember how my Friday night went, boring or not. Therefore that has definately affected my life in a very serious way. I was always being asked "want to do this" or "what to do that". And every time I was able to stand up and say you know what? No. In my opinion it took a lot to not fall into that kind of peer pressure when I am the type of person to follow others, especially when I was younger.
One thing I never used to value: school. I'm not quite sure on how I feel about school at the moment, sitting in school myself, but I never got good grades in high school. Honestly? I just didn't give a crap. I'm a very smart person. No, I'm not math or science orientated but I rank high above my peers in writing, reading, and other creative areas. Granted, I feel like in this post, my thoughts are jumping all over the place. No big deal... Over time, the value of education has become less and less. Kids fresh out of high school are realizing why spend the big bucks to get the same degree at a UW school that you could get for way cheaper at a technical college? Although I say, if you have the grades to get into a top notch school, then its worth paying the loans for the rest of your life, but for me, I don't have the grades-so I'm not going to pay. I can't really say anything on the value of education because I have literally washed my whole high school career down the drain all because I lacked motivation and self drive and now I am paying for it. If I refer to my mom in these posts its because I pretty much looked up to her the entire time of my childhood. Yes, my dad was there but it doesn't mean that I found similarities in myself that I had with him. I'm like my mom, I've gotten over it. Yes she values education but does that mean that having to see her go through the struggles of not finishing college because of me change my view? Nope. Turns out I blew it off just like her. I was too worried about having a social life (which I never really actually had- I was recognized for very much the wrong things) instead of turning in that 5 point assignment that I didn't care about the night before. Well long behold, I didn't fail multiplication because those 5 point assignments? There was 50 of them and before I know it- I would have a D- in that class. Me? I didn't care. This year I want to care so I'm striving to make my senior year my best for grades. I tried that last year being a Junior-yup, didn't work out too well. Same stuff, different day.
I have values, don't drink, don't smoke, don't swear, don't drive reckless, get good grades this year, don't look like a loser. But do I think that I have to deal with a lot of the issues that I will have to face once I turn 18 in December and then finally graduate? Nah. I don't have to worry about any of that right now... My values are still technically developing even though they say that you should know what you want now or else you're never going to make it. I don't know, I'm just still a kid I'm working it out...
Sorry for it being so long and very... unformal and unorganized!