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A value is a belief, which has special meaning to the individual, a philosophy for life, which drives them on and which they live by.

Every individual has values. These values can range from belief in cleanliness and accuracy to belief in friendship and freedom. Although people may share the same values, the way in which they interpret them may be completely different.

We obtain our values from a number of different sources. In our early years it is usually our parents who influence our belief systems as they tune us into a sense of what is right and what is wrong. As we grow it may be that friends and teachers, even religion or television can influence us. In these years it seems that values are not fixed but in fact static and subject to constant change.

I feel that this is a very true statement; I know that as I have grown and experienced more of the world, my value base has changed or rather evolved to make up the core values I hold today. The way in which I have experienced the world and the nature of an unstable childhood have been the main factors of influence on the values that I live by today.

Stability is something I never had as a child; as a result of this it is one of the most important values in my life today. In having this stability and being able to offer it to others (e.g. friends or partners) I am able to draw a control over my life, a control, which till not long ago had been absent. I find a feeling of ease and safety in this stability which keeps me sane as well as driving me on through life.

Another value I hold very high is respect; I believe that every person regardless of colour, race or religion should be shown respect. This value came about as a result of a teacher who taught at my secondary school. A man who was loved and respected by students and teachers alike. Among the many things I learned from him respect had the most impact. Unlike many other people he respected every one of his students for their individuality and what they brought to the table and in return they respected him. It was in my observing of this that I realised how important respect is and how powerful a force it can be. Key to building relationships, personal and professional and key to building life.

The last value I'm going to discuss is communication. My ability to communicate with other members of society is something I hold very important something I value and believe in. I couldn't imagine having to go through life with no means of communication with other

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