The Four Pillars of NHS Membership
The Nathan Hale chapter of the National Honor Society at Huntington High School recently inducted 55 new members. During the ceremony, four of the organization’s officers spoke about character, scholarship, leadership and service, describing in detail the four criteria for belonging to the prestigious group.
Following a brief address by NHS President Olivia Palmer, Vice-President Summer Rudish, Secretary Cynthia Gowani, Treasurer Molly Brambil and Historian Caitlin Yabroudy took turns speaking to the candidates for NHS membership about the pillars of the Nathan Hale chapter.
“When the National Honor Society was established in 1921, the hope was to create an organization that would recognize and foster academic achievement while developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy,” Huntington Principal Carmela Leonardi said. “Scholarship, character, service and leadership are ideals that remain as relevant today as they were 92 years ago.”
Character
“Character is the force within each individual which distinguishes that person from others,” Ms. Rudish said. “It gives each of us our individuality. It is that without which no one can respect oneself, nor hope to attain the respect of others. It is the force of character that guides one through life and, when once developed, grows steadily. Character is achieved and not received. It is the product of constant action and daily striving to make the right choice. The problem of character is the problem of self-control. We must be in reality what we wish to appear to others. By demonstrating such qualities as respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and citizenship, we may hope to prove by example that we value character.”
Scholarship
“Scholarship means a commitment to learning,” Ms. Gowani said. “A student is willing to spend hours in reading and study, knowing the lasting benefits of a cultivated mind. We should continue to learn even when formal education has ended, for education ends only with the end of life. Knowledge is one great element in life which leads to the highest success, and it can be acquired in only one way: through diligence and effort. Learning furnishes the lamp by which we read the past and the light which illuminates the future. Candidates have the charge to continually expand their world through the opportunities inherent in scholarship.”
Leadership
“Leadership should exert a wholesome influence on the school,” Ms. Brambil said. “In taking the initiative in class and school activities, the real leader strives to train and aid others to attain the same objective. The price of leadership is sacrifice; the willingness to yield one’s personal interests for the interest of others. A leader has self-confidence and will go forward when others hesitate. No matter what power and resources may exist in a country, they are ineffectual without the guidance of a wise leader. Leadership is always needed, thus, to lead is a substantive charge to each of our members.”
Service
“Service can be described in various ways,” Ms. Yabroudy said. “In the routine of the day’s work, many opportunities arise to help others. Willingness to work for the benefit of those in need, without monetary compensation or recognition, is the quality we seek in our membership. We are committed to the idea of volunteering our time and abilities to the creation of a better tomorrow.”