From February 12 - 16, Kind Society hosted a RAK week for the students and faculty members at OSSM. It is a period to promote kindness, friendship, and to thank the people around you through fun and special activities. To add to that occasion, here are some students' thoughts on what kindness means to them...
Anonymous
Kindness to me means to treat everyone in a way that you would like to be treated. It doesn't matter who the person is, how they look, or how they act. You also shouldn't need a reason to be kind to others.
Austin Lively
Kindness is a simple concept. Do something nice, without expectations of return. These actions, sometimes as small as smiling, can reverse the order of someone's day. So, why not be that change? Talking with people, helping them with homework, smiling, holding open a door- all of these actions are something simple that you can do to help someone around you. Help them make it through their day, whether it's been a struggle or a break. Help them understand something. Help them to smile.
One day, my car broke down in the school parking lot. Previously in the day, I had gotten a horrible physics quiz back and got hit by a bad literature test. I ran from my room to my car, trying to get everything in it as fast as possible- only to be stuck with a leaking oil pan and no oil. On my way back onto campus, a friend stopped me and talked to me. Did it fix the car? No. Did it fix my grades? No. But it did put one light in a very dark day. A smile on my face again, I went on my way and eventually got home.
So I'll ask again, why not be that change in someone's day?
Alena Dunaway
When I was not feeling well many people showed me concern, especially my roommate, Aubrey. Aubrey checked on me and gave me things to help me feel better and that was really kind. Also, I received a really uplifting letter from one of the members of Kind Society.
Addie Kammerlocher
Everyone was really kind to me on my birthday! It's awesome how the whole community makes your birthday special. I'd like to say thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday, especially my German class, who sang to me!
Vamsee Sunkar Two days ago, I saw Priyan Daji and Rohit Thomas help Josmar Medina recover his lost Western Civilization term paper from his computer after a crash. Both Priyan and Rohit, set aside their homework for the night to help their close friend with this problem. At the end of study time, Josmar was back to working on his term paper again... restoring the natural order of the universe. It's acts of kindness like these that make OSSM the great place that it is.
Anonymous
Kindness is giving people the respect we are all entitled to. It is patience with each other’s shortcomings. It is setting your beliefs aside and understanding the other side, or at least, trying to understand the other side. It is thinking of others and putting yourself in their shoes. It is choosing words with care so as not to insult. It is realizing your insult and apologizing for it. It is being generous in being good.
Courtesy of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation