One act at a time  – The Pulse

By Morgan Sparks and Pulse Staff

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Being form may often really feel like an afterthought in a world the place school life can really feel like a endless rush between coursework, jobs, and extracurriculars. However, tiny acts of kindness are having an affect on the University of Findlay.

“Kindness doesn’t have to be grand or complicated. A smile, a thank you, or few encouraging words can go a long way,” Alex Landis, senior animal science main at University of Findlay mentioned.

Students and lecturers alike are discovering methods to guide with empathy, whether or not it’s by sharing a meal after a sport, providing a listening ear to a baby in want, or simply being there for another person.

Landis says scholar mentors show kindness on campus and volunteering is one other technique to present kindness.

As a student-athlete on the ladies’s soccer staff, Landis is happy about her personal enterprise into volunteering and mentorship. This 12 months she helped begin a membership to work with a mentoring program for youths referred to as Children’s Mentoring Connections.

“We focus on building supportive, one-on-one mentoring relationships between college students and youth in the community,” Landis mentioned. “Our goal is to provide encouragement, guidance, and a safe space for kids to grow.”

Dr. Steve Siegle in psychology and licensed skilled counselor with Mayo Clinic Health Systems wrote of The Art of Kindness in August 2023.

“Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a hormone directly correlated with stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer,” Siegle mentioned. “It also can be contagious, encouraging others to join in with their own generous deeds.”

Landis was not too long ago on the receiving finish when a teammate of hers supplied her dinner with their household after a tough sport.

“They didn’t have to invite me, but they went out of their way to make sure I felt welcomed and apart of the family,” Landis mentioned.

This second shifted a brand new perspective for Landis. It altered how she thinks about small acts of kindness and impressed her management model as she takes on a brand new function with this program.

“It reminded me that kindness can be as simple as sharing a meal and creating a space for someone,” Landis mentioned.

Her aim because the president of this group is to encourage easy however significant experiences like ice cream outings, or simply being current for a kid.

“I try to give that kindness back by creating opportunities for those connections to happen,” Landis mentioned. She’s hoping others can be open to creating these connections.

“If people are interested in the club, they can email me at [email protected],” Landis mentioned.

*If you may have a narrative of kindness to share please ship your concept and data to [email protected] with Find the Kind within the topic line.