Recent ways students exemplify kindness in action
Sunday, November 13th, is World Kindness Day, and people everywhere are encouraged to “make kindness the norm.” Students can get involved by doing anything from sending a nice text to a friend or spreading positivity on social media. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation spearheads the movement and shares a number of fun and easy ideas to celebrate the day!
In honor of World Kindness Day, we’re sharing some great examples of students making kindness the norm to inspire you and your students.
Kindness in Action
Students volunteer at the New York City Marathon
International and first-year immersion students from Quinnipiac University were invited to volunteer at the New York City Marathon that was held in early November. It is typically challenging to obtain a volunteer spot at the marathon, but the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs facilitated an opportunity for the students to participate. For some students, it was their first time visiting the city and they were tasked with filling water cups, handing them to the runners, and giving them words of encouragement as they ran by.
Students were able to spread kindness at the race by physically and mentally supporting the runners. Running a marathon is a difficult feat, but with the students’ efforts, cheers, and positive motivation, more than 50,000 runners completed the 26.2 mile course.
Students learn sign language for cafeteria worker who is hard of hearing
Students in Suffolk, Virginia are actively bringing positive change and increased inclusivity to their school by expanding their knowledge of sign language. Leisa Duckwall, a cafeteria worker at the school, is hard of hearing and was not able to communicate with many students until a student with an understanding of sign language exchanged casual signs with her during lunch one day. After that, inspiration struck and classes started learning different sign language terms to communicate with Duckwall during lunchtime. They even started integrating a daily sign language word during their broadcasted daily morning announcements. What started as a simple act of understanding and kindness has turned into a schoolwide movement.
1,600 Wikipedia bios are made for unknown female scientists to give due recognition
Jessica Wade, a physicist from London, has personally written over 1,600 Wikipedia bios to give recognition to unknown female scientists. Wade is a large advocate for gender equality in STEM and has goals to not only give due recognition but also to help young girls who are interested in science by giving support in going into the field.
Wade has been formally invited to Buckingham Palace to receive the British Empire Medal and a citation from Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia. Wade’s actions have honored many female scientists who deserve credit for their hard work and have helped raise awareness of the inequality that exists in STEM.
Free hotline features inspiring pep talks from kindergarteners
At West Side School in Healdsburg, California, an art project initially developed to celebrate creativity and a feeling of helpfulness has taken the country by storm. This project consists of a hotline where advice, words of encouragement, pep talks, and happiness are readily available at the click of a button. Over 80 students at the school recorded these messages and they are currently reaching thousands and thousands of people.
Students participating in the project were instructed to say something that helped them during a tough or difficult situation. Art teacher Jessica Martin started the program because she was concerned about stressful situations the students have endured and thought the hotline would be a great way to bring joy back into the lives of her students. The hotline provides positive and life-affirming messages to those in need, as well as an outlet for students to express their creativity and kindness.
TSI’s Take on these acts of kindness
These stories are just some of the ways people and students are making a difference in the world by helping people, improving inclusivity, and spreading kindness and encouraging messages. We encourage students to always adopt kindness, online and offline, as it improves the world and personal well-being.
Check out our Seven Social Standards, so you can better understand how to use technology to spread kindness, as well as these twenty tips to make social media a positive place.
For more information on how you can inspire your students to spread kindness using technology, contact us today for a personalized demo.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in understanding student experiences and creator of #WinAtSocial, a gamified, online learning platform that equips students, educators, and families to navigate social experiences — online and offline — in healthy ways. Our unique, student-respected approach incorporates topics like social media, technology use, and current events that have a significant impact on student well-being. Lessons teach life skills for the modern day to inspire high-character decisions that support the health, happiness, and future success of students, while capturing data that provides insights to school leaders to inform school policy and communications, and enable high-impact teaching and a healthy learning environment. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities.