From February 11-17th was Random Acts of Kindness week where you would perform a random act(s) of kindness to someone in your community. There are a few acts I done (sometimes on a basis) so I’ll explain 3:

1. Saying “please” and “thank you” and be sincere about it – I always appreciate it when someone devotes their time in helping me out.
2. Holding the door for someone – when I have the time, I often hold the door open for people who are going to their class, especially during transitions in between.
3. If someone is short of some change, give it to them – the first time I did it was after school, when I was a different bus stop because the one at school didn’t come, Anyway, another student from the same school was at the bus stop with her friends and I overheard she didn’t have change for the bus so I gave some to her and her reaction to that made me feel . . . uplifting.

What did you notice about the people who benefited from the RAC?

What did you notice about yourself

How did performing a RAC contribute to your personal awareness and responsibility?

Did you enjoy this RAC? Would you do it again? Would you change it, it so, how?

How did it contribute to your leadership skills?

Did you notice it ‘catching on’ with others?

 

With opening doors, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ or giving spare change, we all live in the same community as either neighbors, classmates, co-workers and teachers. So performing an RAC is a simple way of leaving a good impression on others and being a good role-model. It can also inspire others on what they can do for the community they live in, anything from saying ‘thank you’ to planning a fundraiser.

As a leader, it is needed to set a good example on how you treat others because as we mature, others like those in earlier grades look up to us resulting in what we do to “catch on”. For example,  some days I notice someone holding the door for everyone to go through in the school during class transitions or simply invited someone to eat lunch with.

The most common reaction I get from the person I helped, especially to a stranger is that sign of appreciation – a dawned look on their face or smiling and saying a “big thank you” and seeing that appreciation, along with knowing that I may have made their day easier makes me feel more confident, happy and the slight urge to do more, like meet new people and try new things. So yes, I would continue these RACs often.