Members of the Doane Kindness Project pose for a picture while passing out kind notes around campus.
As the days get darker and stress starts mounting from finals on the horizon, some students need some kindness in their lives. On Nov. 13, the Doane Kindness Project aimed to offer that to students through several activities centered around World Kindness Day.
“Being kind means to make others feel seen, loved, and heard. Going out of your way to make someone else feel better or doing something for someone for their benefit. Being kind is serving others before yourself. However, it is good to have a healthy balance and be kind to yourself too,” junior and President/Founder of Doane Kindness Project Morgan Smith said.
Smith and the rest of her team coordinated a campus-wide event that aimed to help get students to be kind to each other and themselves. Starting with the Doane Kindness Project passing out notes around campus at 8 a.m., followed by a kindness video and treats at the information desk from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a Student Appreciation Dinner hosted by STUCO from 5 to 7 p.m. and capping off with a final celebration in Lakeside featuring games, coloring, prizes and more.
To Smith, this is an opportunity to encourage Doane students to build kindness into their lives permanently and work to become better, kinder and more caring people to everyone they meet. The activities and events are all well and good, but to Smith, they can open the door for more introspection into what kindness is to a person.
“A lot of people who came to the desk at lunch and made the video had to really think about the questions we asked. A lot of them stated that these were questions they usually take for granted and pass over each day. So, it was good to get people thinking about kindness in that light. The questions being: “What does kindness mean to you?“ and “What is the kindness thing someone has ever done for you,” Smith said.
Photos by Kayla Greenway | The Doane Owl
{Left) Junior Morgan Smith places a kind note next to someone’s dorm door to find later. (Right) Freshman Kate Byerly checks out the Doane Kindness Project at the Beige Desk.
While Kindness Day was a success, Smith and the rest of the Doane Kindness Project want to emphasize that being kind isn’t restricted to just one day. Especially as the holiday season and finals approach, now might be the time for everyone to be even kinder than they normally are.
I think as finals week comes around it is super important to be kind to yourself and get plenty of sleep and stay on top of your schoolwork. You could also be kind to others by checking in on how your friends are doing and invite them to study with you,” Smith said.
“Holidays are always stressful for a lot of people but I think if you look past a lot of the superficial parts of it, it is easier to be kind. Even if you aren’t able to see family members or friends on the holiday, giving them a call and letting them know you’re thinking of them would probably mean a lot.”
