Constitutions

N.O.V.A. Constitutions

As part of the requirements to earn a Certification of Achievement award from N.O.V.A., students need to write a personal, “N.O.V.A. Constitution”.  This Constitution is a document students write that is meant to guide and direct their lives in good, positive, and productive ways.  In essence, it’s their, “Road map to the path of Excellence”.  We hope that you enjoy these Constitutions.  May they inspire you, and perhaps even prompt you to create your own, “Road map to the path of Excellence”.

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2009 – “Abby”, Utah:     “First, as I work my way up to my future, I need to learn talents.  Opportunities are great ways to help me learn talents.  Some of the opportunities I am already working on are piano, art, and swim team.  There are also things that I don’t want to take advantage of like drugs, gangs, the negative sides of media, stuff like that.  These are things that we should avoid.  Things I value are family, friends, school, N.O.V.A., and my dream that gives me something to look forward to in life.  I have always wanted to be a marine biologist.  N.O.V.A. has helped me in many ways like teaching me to feel good about myself, giving me many tools to use in life to help me get to my path of excellence, and teaching me to appreciate life and everything and everyone in it.  Sometimes we all get a little discouraged about some stuff that everyone has a problem with and since we all have had that happen, we all can help.  I have learned a lot this year and now know that with the help and support of my friends, family, and teachers, I can make it through and get to where I want to be when I grow up.”

2009 – “Seth”, Utah:     “My few months in N.O.V.A. have taught me many important things that I didn’t know to help me through my life.  I loved the lessons.  The stories and games were so fun and funny; I adored them.  The lessons also taught me to avoid bad things such as: drugs, violence, gangs, negative media, and more.  These things I want to avoid because they will prevent me from progressing in my life, could put me in jail, and do not give my joy.  I especially remember all the stuff about negative media; I need to avoid pornography, bad music, and bad internet sites.  Someday I want to be a scientist.  I need to be educated to do this and not be taking drugs or doing things that will get me kicked out of school.  I value my family, my things, and my life.  I will do the things N.O.V.A. has taught me so that I can follow my path to excellence.”

2009 - “Carrie”, Utah:     “The N.O.V.A. program has helped lead me to my path of excellence by letting me know what things I should avoid, and what things I should look for.  I like that all the games we play have lessons to them, and that we can learn from them.  One of the lessons that I really remember is the one with the frisbees, called True Colors.  Our officer told us to try to convince the people who were outside to say they the wrong color.  He tried to show us what is right is right and what’s wrong is wrong.  Some things I really want to avoid are bad music, pornography, drugs, violence, and gangs.  I want to stay away from bad music because it can change the way I act and think.  I want to avoid pornography and drugs because they are addicting; drugs can ruin my health.  I don’t want to get into violence because it can lead to jail.  And gangs can lead to all the things I want to avoid.  A goal I have is to stay in school.  Education is very important; I cannot be a lot of things if I don’t go to college.  When I am older, I want to be a person who has nothing to do with anything bad.  I want to have a job and to be responsible for my actions.  I want to have stage three maturity and to have confidence in myself.  I want to live a gang-free, bad music-free, pornography-free, drug-free, violence-free life!”

2009 – “Quinton”, Utah:     “My parents and other leaders have taught me from an early age to be the best at whatever I am doing.  I have learned that if I always try my hardest and give my best effort in all that I do, that I will always feel like a success.  The N.O.V.A. program completely reinforced these principles in my life.  Sometimes, I tend to rush through my homework without checking it twice or rush through practicing the piano.  N.O.V.A. has helped me to understand that I really need to take advantage of the opportunities to learn and grow and to not let these opportunities pass by without giving a maximum effort.  I have also learned the importance of being busy doing good things.  Because, when we are not, we have a tendency to do things that we probably shouldn’t be doing.  I have learned the dangers of drugs and experimenting with other harmful things.  I will avoid these at all costs as with all things, experimenting with drugs has a cause and effect.  Because when you do or don’t do something, something happens.  This principle taught me a lot.  N.O.V.A. has taught me the value of hard work.  Like I mentioned above, I could work harder in developing my talents.  If I don’t, I will not reap as great as a reward as I could have.  I will work harder in all I do from now on.  I also value the concept of “There is no excuse: what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong.”  This has taught me to not play in the “gray” areas of life.  N.O.V.A. has helped me realize that when creating “My roadmap to the path of excellence” that all of my choices matter.  I will think of the cause and effect of all that I do and am determined to do my best in everything in life.  I know that if I will follow these principles that my road to excellence will not be as bumpy as if I had not made these resolutions.”

2008 – “Lyndi”, Utah:          “The first step I will take to get closer to my path of excellence will be to identify my values or in other words my standards and things that are important to me.  Some of these things are my family, my religion, and my talents or hobbies.  These things are important to me because they describe what kind of a person I am and also what I want to become.  I plan to pursue my talents and use them in my everyday life, to create standards that not only I will be proud of but will also be a good example to others, and to always refer to my values when I am faced with a hard decision or choice.  My next step in getting closer to my path of excellence will be to avoid things that might be harmful, dangerous, or wrong.  Some of these things are drugs, alcohol, pornography, and crude language.  I plan to avoid these things by striving to be positive, productive, and also a good example to my friends and family.  This attitude will help me to stay away from these harmful, dangerous, and wrong things and help me to strive to be a better person.  I also want to take advantage of good opportunities like service and charity.  I have found that I feel much better serving others then when I’m doing things for myself.  So with my values, positive attitude, and good opportunities I will start on my roadmap to the path of excellence.”

2008 – “Autumn”, Utah:          “When I was born I didn’t know any better.  I never knew what was right or what was wrong.  Growing up I learned that I could make choices.  The road to excellence or failure in my life would depend on the good or bad choices I make.  As I go along, many, many temptations will come my way that could lead me off the path of excellence and on to the road to failure.  I want to keep to the right path that will guide me where I want to go.  In life I want to take the opportunity to go to college and take classes in high school so I may become a sign language translator.  In fifth grade, Miss Evans started teaching my class sign language.  Ever since then I’ve wanted to excel in signing.  I want to help other people in life to understand the world.  Another opportunity I want to take is to become an athlete.  To make that opportunity happen I need to eat healthy things like fruits and vegetables.  I need to practice to become better at the sports I want to do.  There are numerous other opportunities I want to take.  There aren’t just opportunities in the world but there are things that can harm me and start leading me down the path to failure.  Those types of things in the world are what I want to avoid.  Drugs are one of those things that could damage my health and I could risk the opportunity of becoming an athlete.  They do not only damage my health but they can make it so I can’t get a job.  It’s not worth it to me to even try a drug.  It can become an addiction and I won’t know until it’s too late if its damaged me.  Not only can drugs become an addiction but pornography can too.  These are not the only things that can harm me mentally or physically.  There are many things in the world that can harm us.  I’m making a choice now that I will avoid these types of dangerous things in the world before it becomes too late.  In the N.O.V.A. program I have learned so many things.  It has taught me no matter what stand up for what I believe in.  Also it has taught me some quotes like Opportunities which means “good things that come your way”.  Garbage in/Garbage out stands for, “what you put in is what you get out”.  These quotes have helped me understand a little bit more and it has opened up my eyes to the world around me.  The N.O.V.A. program educated me on more things than I could imagine.  It has taught me about music influences, positive and negative sides to media, cause and effect, and to study the situation.  It has taught me to be a N.O.V.A. lone wolf.  This is not everything the N.O.V.A. program has taught me because there are several things that I want to remember forever.  N.O.V.A. has prepared me even more for things I need to avoid or opportunities I want to take.   I have a road map that I want to follow and stick to my road map to my path to excellence.  Each choice I make I’m going to ask myself will this help me to stay on my path of excellence.  We each can choose our own road map that we can decide where it will lead us in our each and individual lives.”

2008 – “Travis”, Utah, 6th Grade Teacher:          When I ponder upon the things that I cherish most, my mind wanders to my beautiful wife and wonderful son.  I think of my religion and faith, as well as the blessings that I receive from working with my students.  The thought of losing these treasures because of terrible decisions to take drugs, alcohol, or view pornography, frightens me beyond words.  It’s these thoughts and others that motivate me to follow my path of excellence.  There is such joy that can be found in following the teaching that NOVA spells out.  Responsibility, accountability, morality, and healthy lifestyle habits are taught through this program.  As a young husband and father, I’ve found NOVA to be a wonderful source of guidance in my attempts to raise a happy, loving family.  Years ago as a young teenager I personally witnessed a loved one of mine lose his life to the lure and addictions of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs.  I know then as I know now that health and happiness can only be found by making positive decisions.  Filling my life with goals and purpose has helped me to stay on my path of excellence.  Seeking to excel in school, scouts, music and sports allowed me to escape the depressing world of hopelessness, that is found within drug addiction and abuse.  And yet as I look to the future this day, I know that my journey of living by the principles set forth by NOVA is not over.   It is a lifetime commitment to keeping oneself clean and productive.  I pledge now to follow my NOVA constitution and to help others live by theirs.”

2008 - “Sara”, Utah:          By following my roadmap to the path of excellence, I can avoid many problems and bad situations that cause problems for young people today.  My roadmap includes taking advantage of opportunities that will come my way if I keep my mind and body free of bad influences.  These opportunities will include having good friends with similar standards as mine.  Also I will be able to make good decisions because my mind will be clear.  I will be able to use the internet because I will use it wisely.  I will have opportunities to be a leader because people will recognize good wholesome characteristics in me that they will find inspiring and attractive.  My roadmap will steer me away from unhealthy problems like using alcohol and drugs.  It will take me away from violence, teasing, and bullying, and lead me towards kindness, love, and being helpful to others.  My map will help me recognize unhealthy internet websites, and lead me towards sites that build character, self-esteem, and challenge my imagination.  I value people who make right decisions whether they are popular or not.  I value clean thoughts and actions that come from an uncluttered mind free of internet garbage.  The NOVA program has helped me create my roadmap by teaching me how to handle situations before they come up.  I can decide now how I will act so that I will not be pressured when the time comes into making a poor decision.  The NOVA program helps me stay on my roadmap and gives me the chance to be the best perosn I can possible be.”

2008 – “Garett”, Utah:          “I believe that this could change my entire out look on life.  If I want to become the best person I can become I want to take advantage of great opportunities such as not doing drugs, good jobs, good friends, and last but not least, good grades so I can go to college so I can become a doctor.  Things I want to avoid are drugs, foul people, and bad jobs.  I’m lucky to have great friends, this has given me a head start on my path of excellence and good parents and family to help me out when I am in need of help.  N.O.V.A. has given me the keys to my goals in life and I intend to use every single thing I learned in N.O.V.A. to help me go to college, avoid drugs, and to listen, watch, and do the right things.  This is my N.O.V.A. Constitution.”

2008 – “Megan”, Utah:          “Since I’m now stepping into a world filled with good and bad things, I’m going to try my best to avoid all the bad things in life.  There are things that I want like, going to college, and having a good life.  I’m not going to get to these things if I start taking drugs, stealing, and doing other things that are harmful to me.  In my future and now I want to avoid all the things that will destroy my life.  Drugs will make me fall right off my path of excellence and maybe even cause death.  The same thing with violence, stealing and all the other horrible things you can think of.  I don’t want to do any of those things.  What I want is a wonderful life.  Not the kind where only good things happen to you, I know bad things happen in life, but I’m going to try to avoid them.  Starting now I want to take good opportunities.  I want to have good friends, be around my family, and go to school.  Those are the things I want, and need.  They are part of my life.  They’re on my path of excellence waiting for me.  And that’s where I want to be, not on the path of failure.  There are things that mean a lot to me, like my family and friends.  Without them, my life would be a lot harder.  Their guidance makes my life a lot easier.  My home and my belongings are also very special to me.  My home gives me shelter in any weather.  My belongings give me something to do besides watching television.  Those are the tools I need to get on my path of excellence.  NOVA gave me other tools to use.  One of the main tools is, saying “no” to all of the things that are harmful to me.  My roadmap to excellence has school, a job, family, and good friends.  I want and will fly down my path of excellence.”

2008 - “Jordyn”, Utah:          “There are many opportunities I would like to take advantage of.  One opportunity I want to take advantage of while I’m young is try out for a Olympic soccer program.  I’m going to take advantage of my education given to me, so I may get into a good college.  I would like to take advantage of NOVA also.  A big thing I want to avoid is drugs.  They would totally lead me off of my path to excellence.  It would be like losing your map and getting lost.  Another thing I would like to avoid is bad friends.  I would not like to be in a car, having your “friends” lead you off the path, or give you the wrong directions.  I would also like to avoid bad media.  Bad media meaning depressing music, video games, and T.V..  Avoiding bad music will make me happier, and function better too.  Avoiding these things will affect me in a better way, and I will accept that.  I have many things I value in life.  One that I value the most is my family.  They are always there for me.  Another thing I value is education.  I’m grateful for my knowledge I’ve learned in school, so it can help me in life.  NOVA is definitely “My roadmap to the path of excellence.”  It has helped me to see things I didn’t before.  It has showed me to look out for bad things, and how to watch for them.  In some ways it has made me more mature.  The tips given to me will lead me through the hard times in life.  NOVA will guide me to the path of excellence.”

2008 – “Amy”, Utah, 6th Grade Teacher:          Understanding the power of making life time decisions can help me achieve my path of excellence.  Knowing what I want and setting goals to lead me to success and positive opportunities has made my life easier.  I have a goal to continue my own education by preparing for graduate school where I want to study to receive a master’s degree in mathematics education.  I also have a goal to go to Korea to perhaps teach English there for a summer.  I had the opportunity to live in Korea for about a year and a half and would really like to go back again.  Each of these opportunities will help me gain more knowledge that I can use to help others and find success in my work and personal life.  These goals are important to me because education is something that I value.  If you don’t know something you are missing knowledge that can help you solve problems or avoid trouble.  Education opens more doors of opportunity.  Another thing that is very important to me is family.  I want to have knowledge that can help my family.  I also want to share the things we learn in N.O.V.A. with them so that they can do well on their path to excellence.  Teaching is also something I love and is very important to me.  The things that I learn in N.O.V.A. can help me help my students.  N.O.V.A. principles teach us to avoid gangs, drugs, low self esteem, and media that is vulgar or destructive.  These things can stop us from achieving our goals and prevent us from helping others.  I will use my knowledge to avoid trouble and to achieve my goals.”

2008 – “Alec”, Utah:          “Some standards that I want to have for myself are to respect people even if their choices are different than mine, and to not bully anyone around.  I’ll be mature, and make good choices for myself.  My family is important to me.  I will treat them the best and I will support them.  I’ll do what my Mom and Dad tell me to do when they ask me to do something.  Another thing that is important to me is getting good grades in school, and graduating in High School so that I can get a job.  Also the things I want to avoid is not play or watch violent, offensive, and vulgar movies and video games.  The internet is a dangerous place of internet predators and pornography.  I will avoid these dangers by being careful of what I type, deleting junk mail, and to not give out my information.  I will listen to music that my Mom and Dad are ok with.  I’ll avoid drugs by not hanging out with people who do that.  One of the things I plan to do is become a cartoonist or an animator.  I will try hard in school, study, go to collage, and get a masters degree.  I will be honest no matter what the circumstance.”

2008 – “Shelby”, Utah:          “I feel that NOVA has taught me many things to help me in my life.  One of those things is to be drug free.  By choosing good friends, who do not do drugs and by helping them to make the right choice about staying drug free.  We can help each other.  If I talk to my parents about the choices I make and communicate with them about the things that I do, they will guide me and help me to stay drug free.  I also, learned that I can say “No” when others may want me to try drugs.  I can help my friends also say “No” and walk away.  I also learned about bullying and treating others with respect.  I will never bully or treat others unkindly.  It has helped me to know how to help others if they are being bullied.  I want to stick up for those people and help them.  I learned that I can tell a teacher or my parents and they can help me to help others.  NOVA has taught me the importance of getting a good education and attending college.  This will help me to have more opportunities to have a good job and enjoy what I do.  It has helped me to want to do a little bit better each day in school and at home.  It has helped me to be positive and work hard to reach my goals in life.  I can do anything if I remember these things that NOVA has taught!”

2007 – “Madison”,  Utah:          “This year, in the N.O.V.A. program, I have learned a lot!  I know now that there are tons of things that can hurt me, and I’ve learned how to recognize them and how to avoid them.  I know that the harmful and hurtful things will try to disguise themselves and then, as soon as I have done it, I may get addicted and my entire life could fall apart.  I want to avoid smoking, drugs, violence, alcohol, bad TV shows, bad music, and obscene internet websites.  I value, good, clean, music, movies, internet sites, and people who also try to avoid harmful things.  My heroes are my whole family, but one in particular is my sister.  She stays away from things that she knows will hurt her, and is a great example to me, and how I can stay on my path to excellence.  I always want to keep my body clear of all the alcohol and drugs that are out in the world today, so I can get a good job and go to a good college, when I get older.  In order for me to be a successful person, I need to keep my body healthy, clean, and in good, physical shape.  I don’t ever want to be in a place that could hurt me.  In N.O.V.A. I have learned I have to be careful with what I watch, listen to, and do on the internet.  There are awful, terrible things on the TV, the internet, and in music.  It is important to stay away from these things because, once you see it or hear it, it sticks in your brain and soon you’ll start doing the vulgar, obscene things you have heard or seen.  What you put in is what you get out.  Because of the Garbage in, Garbage out principle, I’m always careful with what I put in.  N.O.V.A. has helped to lead me to my path of excellence because Sergeant Wakamatsu has warned me of all the vulgar, bad, obscene, things that are in the world today and has helped me to recognize them and be able to keep away from them and make sure that I never am part of anything dangerous.  I am very thankful for every thing I have learned in N.O.V.A.”

2007 – “Jessica” - Utah:          “There are many things that I want to accomplish in my life.  As I have thought about what is important to me and considered the things I have learned in N.O.V.A. I know that I need a plan to make it happen.  I need to decide what “My Roadmap to the Path of Excellence” is.  The first point on my path is to take advantage of the many opportunities I have.  I want to open the way to many options in my life.  I’ll do this by taking advantage of harder classes that give me a challenge and increase my knowledge.  I want to develop talents and skills.  Right now I am taking piano lessons.  In the future I hope to take voice lessons and learn to draw.  I also want to serve others.  I love to help younger kids and even my dad at work.  It’s fun to learn new things.  The second point on my path is to be healthy and strong.  I will do this by avoiding drugs, alcohol, and tobacco so I will be free of addictions.  I will also eat healthy foods, and get exercise.  This way I can have fun, feel good, and enjoy life.  The next point on my path is to recognize the many things in my life that I value.  I value my family and friends because they help me through my hard times.  I value being a friend to as many people as I can because it makes me feel happy.  I also value my church and education and the goals they help me to achieve.  Knowing what I value will help me throughout my life.  The N.O.V.A. program has been a wonderful experience for me and helped lead me to “My Path of Excellence.”  I know I will continue to add points to my path as I grow older because I know what is good for me to do.  I will try to do the best I can and better so I can be healthy and happy.  I love my life and want to live it as fully as possible.  I want to be optimistic and happy and do the best I can.  The N.O.V.A. program has helped me decide this.  I now know what I want as “My Roadmap to the Path of Excellence.”