What does the word "honor" bring to your mind? Does it conjure up an image of knights in shining armor? Does it bring to mind the code of chivalry, which was the honor code of the knights? It does in my mind. Knights always had to uphold their code of chivalry. We here at Southern Virginia University need to uphold our school’s honor code, which is: honesty and respect.

The Honor Code of Southern Virginia University sets a high bar, a standard of honor for the knights to maintain. It includes honesty, virtue, and respect. “Our integrity, honor and honesty is part of who we are as individuals. While we should be teaching our children to raise their standards, we should also be showing our love and our support in everyone’s honest endeavors. When one violates or undermines people in a workplace or family, it hurts everyone involved.” We are learning to maintain honor like the knights in shining armor that we hear about in history books. Paraphrasing my roommate, honor is in your words and actions. If we are not honest, we lose our honor. I found a quote once that said, “When dealing with anyone, in any capacity, honesty is the guide. Integrity is the path to take. Honor is yours to own.”

I asked another friend what honor meant to her, and she defined it as “reverence and respect for something.” I have started to realize that when I have reverence and respect for someone I also honor them… I have a friend who I respect highly and am able to respect her opinion enough that if she tells me to go to bed, I try to do it as soon as possible. We also show reverence and respect for ourselves when we follow our school’s honor code. We are showing respect and reverence for our bodies when we follow our school’s honor code by taking care of our bodies. We are also learning to have respect and reverence towards those we interact with on a daily basis. We gain honor for ourselves when we honor others. As we honor others, they learn to honor us in return. It takes time to earn honor from others.

Southern Virginia University’s honor code is meant to bring honor to all those who live by its standards. We are expected to be honest in all we do. We are expected to respect ourselves and others. As we are honest and respectful, we, as well as our university, can be honorable and honored. Lastly, we are expected to respect the laws. As knights of Southern Virginia University, we are expected to live in a chivalrous manner, like unto the knights in shining armor. It is our duty to uphold the honor code.