The following essay is the first-place winner of the Academic Integrity Committee’s 2021 Writing Contest. Anaelecia Turcio, the writer of this winning piece, specifies that integrity is important to uphold not only for themselves, but it’s important in relationships, work, and everyday life. Congratulations, Anaelecia!

In order to have a happy and successful life, one must have integrity, strong morals, principles, and values. Integrity allows a person to maintain a healthy relationship, thrive in their workplace, and live an overall happy, peaceful life. 

In order to maintain a solid relationship between two people, personal integrity is required for honest and open communication. Randi Gunther, a clinical psychologist and marriage counselor, stated, “Selling out is giving up personal integrity in order to avoid fear of loss. Love cannot thrive for long in that emotional environment” (Gunther). Ignoring one’s own feelings to avoid an uncomfortable situation or argument, according to Gunter, is a recipe for a relationship to fail. Furthermore, integrity in relationships goes far beyond just uncomfortable conversations. Integrity is needed to create and maintain trust in a relationship because, without integrity, a person may make empty promises. According to Sheri Stritof, a marriage consultant and author, “You both need to follow through on your promises without being constantly nagged or reminded to do so. Not keeping your word means your partner will lose trust in you, which is damaging to your marriage and leaves you at risk for divorce” (Stritof). In other words, relationships can not function properly without trust because each person will be seen as undependable and it’s nearly impossible to be in a loving relationship with someone untrustworthy and undependable

Integrity also proves essential for an individual to excel in the workplace. According to the Michael Page team, a group of skilled individuals that assist companies with recruitment, “Maintaining integrity at work is crucial for employees at all levels, but especially as you continue to move up the ladder” (“What”). Displaying integrity through hard work and reliability allows an employee to gain access to promotions and special opportunities. In addition, employees with integrity work the hardest to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be chosen for highly competitive jobs. “Many of us know people who are willing to delegate but hesitant to get their hands dirty. Employees with integrity, on the other hand, are willing to go above and beyond with their own work and help others out if the situation calls for it” (“What”). Employees with integrity work the hardest because they realize that hard work leads to raises and promotions.

Having integrity leads to an overall fulfilling life filled with happiness and few regrets. Displaying integrity allows a person to follow their dreams. According to international speaker, Marcel Schwantes, “Living, working, and leading in integrity means that we don’t question ourselves. When we listen to our hearts and do the right thing, life becomes simple, and we live in peace. Our actions are now open for everyone to see, and we don’t have to worry about hiding anything” (Schwantes). In other words, integrity allows a person to experience life freely, as they follow their heart and not other people’s expectations. Simply put, living with integrity allows a person to experience a better, happier life.

Displaying integrity allows people to form valuable relationships and bonds with others, excel in the workplace, and follow any dreams they may have. In sum, having integrity substantially increases a person’s quality of life.

Works Cited

Gunther, Randi. “Selling Out: Compromising Integrity in Intimate Relationships.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 10 Apr. 2011, 21 Feb. 2021, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rediscovering-love/201104/selling-out-compromising-integrity-in-intimate-relationships.

Schwantes, Marcel. “3 Huge Reasons Why Integrity Is So Important.” LinkedIn, 20 Jan. 2015, 23 Feb. 2021, www.linkedin.com/pulse/three-biggest-reasons-why-leadership-integrity-so-marcel-schwantes/. 

Stritof, Sheri. “Why Being a Dependable and Honest Partner Is Key to Marriage Success.” Verywell Mind, 7 Mar. 2020, 20 Feb. 2021, www.verywellmind.com/do-you-keep-your-word-2303983.

“What Is Integrity in the Workplace?” Michael Page, 7 Oct. 1018, 24 Feb. 2021, www.michaelpage.com.au/advice/career-advice/productivity-and-performance/what-integrity-workplace.