Trait # 1:
Be aware of your surroundings
Lance Corporal William Kyle Carpenter is the youngest living soldier to have ever received the Medal of Honour. He received this prestigious award for his extraordinary demonstration of decisiveness, loyalty, and bravery while serving on tour in the Marjah District, Afghanistan. While scanning for enemy forces in battle on November 21, 2010, Corporal Carpenter realized the potential danger that his fellow Marines were in when multiple grenades were being thrown at them in close proximity to their rooftop observation post. With total disregard of his own personal safety and potential death, Corporal Carpenter quickly positioned himself between the grenades and his fellow Marines in an attempt to protect them. Corporal Carpenter’s awareness, fearlessness, and quick response to the dangerous situation that he saw allowed him to save the lives of his fellow Marines. Corporal Carpenter's courageous and selfless heroic action made him a strong recipient of the Medal of Honour.
Everyday, you have multiple opportunities to promote the good and to stand up for what you believe in. The older you become, the more sights of poverty, pain, injustice, and evil you will witness however, the older you become, the more you will also turn away from these sights to avoid trouble and putting yourselves in a position of experiencing something unpleasant. But you were born with eyes to see, ears to hear, and mouths to share. Therefore, instead of ignoring unpleasant situations or situations that require help, you should be aware of your surroundings and promote positive change by facing unpleasant situations with heroic actions. Being more consciously alert and aware of your daily surroundings and seeking situations that require help will develop your ability to easily spot situation that require help and thus will increase your chances of taking heroic action “You can’t be a change agent if you don’t perceive the needs around you.”
William Kyle Carpenter