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COLUMN: Supporting random acts of kindness

For each person, a random act of kindness has its own personal meaning.

By Jessica Brodeur, Guest Columnist

For each person, a random act of kindness has its own personal meaning. We all have different comfort levels, therefore ones random act could be as simple as making eye contact to a stranger on the street or as impactful as buying someone lunch. It’s just one random act that has an impact on someone else. Nothing planned or organized, these acts are spontaneous and are meant to brighten someone’s day – this is how a closer-knit community is formed.

For me, I have daily practices of smiling to people in the hallways at school and saying "Hi, how’s it going?" to as many people as possible. A few weeks ago, I was commenting to a friend on how the atmosphere at school felt distant and divided. At that moment, I decided I would have "Compliment Fridays" where I would try and make someone feel good about themselves by giving them a sincere compliment, hoping that it would play a small role in uniting the 1,300 students at Pen High. I personally feel content and more connected with my school when I am able to do the simplest things like addressing my peers by name when greeting them in the halls. I think this connectedness forms a ripple effect because if you just start by saying hi to one kid by name, they feel recognized by their peers and are more indulged to recognize someone else and the ripple only grows. Not one student at Pen High is ever told often enough to feel good about themselves but additionally to make others feel good about themselves. Therefore Random Act of Kindness Day is a great reminder and gateway to engage one another and to be appreciative of each other. I challenge you to go out into the community on Nov. 6 and simply make one person’s day by a simple act of kindness. Be kind to one another.

Jessica Broder is a Grade 10 student attending Penticton Secondary School