accountability achievements adversity altruism ambition anxiety aspirations authenticity brooks building-character career character character-building character-development class college commitment comparison compassion competition conformity conscience consumerism courage creativity cultural-analysis cultural-criticism cultural-critique culture david-brooks decision-making dedication determination development dignity discipline discovering-oneself education emotional-intelligence empathy ethical-behavior ethical-choices ethical-dilemmas ethical-values ethics ethics-and-morality existentialism faith fame fear grace gratitude grit growth growth-mindset guidance happiness higher-education honesty human-nature humanity humbleness humility identity inequality inner-development inner-journey inner-strength inner-transformation insecurity inspiration inspirational integrity introspection introspective introspective-journey introspective-memoir journey kindness leadership learning life life-choices life-journey life-lessons life-purpose literature materialism maturation maturity meaning meaning-of-life meaningful-life mindfulness mindset modern-life modern-society moral moral-character moral-compass moral-conscience moral-courage moral-development moral-dilemma moral-dilemmas moral-education moral-integrity moral-philosophy moral-principles moral-psychology moral-strength moral-values moral-virtue moral-virtues morality morals motivation nobility non-fiction nonfiction overcoming-adversity patience perseverance personal-development personal-ethics personal-growth personal-transformation personal-values philosophical philosophical-reflection philosophy philosophy-of-life principles psychology purpose purpose-in-life purposeful-living redemption reflection relationships resilience role-models sacrifice self-awareness self-discipline self-discovery self-esteem self-examination self-growth self-help self-improvement self-reflection self-worth selflessness significance sincerity social-class social-commentary social-comparison social-conscience social-consciousness social-critique social-hierarchy social-psychology social-status societal-expectations societal-norms societal-pressure societal-pressures societal-values society sociology soul-searching spiritual-development spiritual-growth spiritual-journey spirituality status status-anxiety storytelling strength student student-life success the-road-to-character time-management transformation transformative university values values-based-living virtue virtue-ethics virtues virtuous-life vulnerability wealth willpower wisdom