KILL ‘EM WITH KINDNESS

Written by Sydney Barnett, Designed by Lindsay Maresh

combat their fear of not fitting in or being perceived as pushy or out of place. In a way, people feel safer keeping to themselves. While isolation may seem like an easy solution, it is not the best one. Keeping to yourself may feel like a shelter from the storm, but facing that storm with those around you can help you move past it. One way to find people to battle with is through acts of kindness, allowing you to make new friends.

Everyone can be benefited by acts of kindness. According to the Mental Health Foundation, acts of kindness boost feelings of confidence, being in control, happiness and optimism. In addition to this, people who are recipients of kindness are more likely to return the favor to someone else, creating a more positive and happy community.

Almost everybody knows the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. It was one of the most important rules in kindergarten, along with staying in single-file lines in the hallways. This rule is focused completely on kindness and respect. If this is what we are taught at such a young age, where does it go when we are older? What changes?

One thing almost everybody has in high school that they did not have in kindergarten is a phone. Technology gives us access to everything and everyone whenever we want it, removing the need for face-to-face connection in our lives. In doing so, it has created a society that doesn’t appear to need as much kindness.

If someone is having a bad day, you may send them a funny video to cheer them up. You might also send a short text with a heart emoji at the end of it to show them you care. In reality, this means nothing compared to simply sitting down and listening to them. Sometimes all somebody needs is for you to be there—that and maybe a hug.

As we kick off this school year, we must recognize the importance of kindness in our lives. We also must acknowledge the need for balance between evolving the relationships we already have and branching out to form new ones.

Go introduce yourself to the person sitting alone. Walk someone to class. Form connections that will follow you through this phase of your life and possibly more. High school can be pretty tough, but having people you can count on makes it easier .