In Grade 11, understanding yourself is the first step toward success. Your ability to achieve your types of goals depends entirely on the strength of your values and the choices you make every day.
What are Values?
Your values are the principles or rules that you think are essential, precious, or worthy. They are the core of what you believe in. These values act as a compass; they influence the way you behave and think, and they directly affect the choices that you make.
What Shapes Your Values?
Values are not just something you are born with; they are shaped over time by:
- Life experiences and the environment you live in.
- Your family and your school environment.
- Your interests and the important people in your life.
When you set goals, these values help you decide what is worth pursuing and help you prioritise your life goals in order of importance.
Constitutional Values
While we all have personal values, we also share Constitutional values. These are common values that all South Africans are encouraged to follow to promote nation-building. The ten fundamental values are:
- Democracy
- Social justice and equity
- Equality
- Non-racism
- Non-sexism
- Ubuntu
- Open society
- Accountability
- The rule of law
- Respect and reconciliation
Case Study: Thabo’s Environmental Goal
Thabo’s life goal is to become an Environmental Lawyer. He lives in an area where local factories are polluting the river, affecting the health of the community.
Thabo’s Values:
- Accountability: Holding people responsible for their actions.
- Environmental Sustainability: Protecting the earth for future generations.
- Integrity: Doing the right thing even when it is difficult.
The Choice:
Thabo’s friends are planning a weekend trip to a music festival, which would cost a lot of money and take away study time for his upcoming Geography and History exams. Thabo knows that to get into Law School, he needs a high APS score. Because his value of Accountability to his community and his goal of becoming a lawyer are so strong, he chooses to stay home and study. He recognizes that this short-term sacrifice is necessary to achieve his long-term goal.
“My goal gives me a reason to say ‘no’ to things that don’t matter right now. My values remind me that the community is counting on me to succeed.” — Thabo
Activity: Values, Choices, and Goal-Setting
Use the notes and Thabo’s case study above to complete this activity in your workbook.
- Linkage: Explain how Thabo’s life goal and his value of “Accountability” are linked.
- Choices: How is Thabo’s choice to skip the festival linked to his future goal of becoming an Environmental Lawyer?
- Critical Evaluation: Evaluate how having a “purpose” or life goal affects a learner’s ability to resist peer pressure.
- Self-Reflection: List five of your own values in order of importance.
- Identify: Identify three of your life goals.
- Prioritise: Decide which of your life goals is the most important right now. Give a reason for your answer.
- Visualise: Draw a diagram to show the relationship between your values, the choices you make, and your life goals.