Kindness Unnoticed: Celebrating National Kindness Week

As modern-aged citizens whose lives are shaped by what the media puts out, it’s easy for us to notice all the evil in our world. TikToks about nations at war, Youtube videos calling out corruption in our country, news coverage on local crimes- it feels as though the list will never end, and that injustice and suffering will dominate. 

By highlighting the importance of National Kindness Week (November 11th-17th), our very own Mr. Lawrence gives his AP Literature and Composition students a new perspective on life; how although at times it can seem as though only evil exists, goodness is still alive in breathing through the unnoticed acts of kindness done by many people across- not only our own communities, but also many other communities across the world. 

The ungraded assignment was simple. 

“Consider sharing a brief story about an act of kindness you performed today.”

These are students’ submissions.

1. On my drive into school I passed a 3 way intersection. A lady kept trying to turn and get onto the main road. She was cut off by the several other cars in front of me. I had a long line of cars behind me and I knew she would be stuck for a long time. So I chose to slow down and wave her through so she could go on her way. She waved back at me and smiled so I smiled right back. 

 2.

A group of seniors, including myself, went to St. Antoine's Memory unit in Woonsocket and made cookies, sang carols, and engaged with the seniors there. These seniors have Dementia and Alzheimer's, so it can be hard to hold conversations sometimes. Nonetheless, hearing them sing and smile was an amazing sight! They truly enjoyed all of our presence, and we equally enjoyed theirs as well.

3.

There is seldom free time on weekdays. Today I made it a point to spend quality time with my sister, a time where I was truly present to listen to her. It was in these moments that made me realize the power in presence and that filled me with immense gratitude for her and our time we spent together. 

4.

I have an awfully acute sense of smell. It’s like I was cursed with the world’s worst super power. In what world would I need to be able to detect an Axe-d up middle schooler 20 yards away? Needless to say I’ve always had a difficult time with the scent that excreted from the oily canned gloop that my cat loved so much. Recently she’s been under a lot of stress. We just got a dog, who is as gentle as can be, but she’s so afraid of him that she avoids going into the downstairs portion of my house at all costs. We never see her often, and when we do, it’s because she’s hidden in my bed or eating her kibble. Although I’ll never forget the scent, I know that by feeding her a beef and liver pate her anxieties were somewhat forgotten for a moment. 

5.

Today I walked down to the bus stop and waited for my sister's bus to come.

She buses to and from school. The walk from my house to the stop is about five minutes, plus however long you wait. When I walked down, it was freezing. I think of this morning and the falling snow. She has it worse.

Since I have to be at school before her, my mom and I leave her to walk to the stop alone. I figure, especially in the cold, that it must be a miserable walk.

So I made the trip to accompany her back to our house. When she arrived, she seemed surprised. Together, we walked from the stop back to my house. She found out her part in the middle school musical this morning, and spent the whole walk gushing with excitement over the news. 

I figure I'll start to take walks with her more often. 

6.

This happened just last week and although these reports are to be of this week, I do think it is recent enough and an act of kindness worth noting. My friend and I were after school working towards our NHS project which left us after school for hours until about 5 o’clock. Tired and ready to leave, we walked out of the building and being that it was past three o’clock we took a different route given that the doors had been all locked from the outside. 

We walked out, opening the last door and started to walk towards the parking lot as we heard someone yell, “ Wait! Hold that door!!” Alerted, I dashed towards the door that was seconds away from closing and quickly stopped it from locking us all out. 

7.

A woman in her early forties hustled to the door I was holding with a nervous look on her face. “Please help me, my daughter left her bag inside and it has her uniform inside!” I opened the door wider but the look on her face made me realize she had no idea where she was going. I asked her if she needed any help getting to where she was going and all she said was, “ I should be okay… I don’t want to hold you up any longer.” 

 It was the Friday before a weekend and I was extremely tired after a hard week so I was resistant to go back inside with her, but  having done this multiple times before I decided to guide her through the school and search the library for the small black bag she was looking for. “Thank you” she kept saying and “No problem at all” I kept answering as we moved from room to room looking for her daughter's bag. We went all through the building moving from the second floor to the first floor, up in the library, then the halls, but finally settling in the middle school locker room. 

Then I saw it; a black Adidas black with gleaming gold strips wiping down either side of the exterior. “Over here!” I called and the woman immediately beamed, knowing that the bag belonged to her daughter. Walking out she continued to thank me and I continued to assure her that it wasn’t any trouble. Parting our separate ways I went home content (and fifteen minutes later) knowing I was of help to this random woman.

8.

I was waiting in line at the store when I noticed the woman and her screaming baby behind me.  The woman was clearly overwhelmed and even though she had a full basket of groceries, as opposed to my one birthday card, I offered for her to cut in front of me and go first.  She was very grateful that I let her go first.  I’m glad I was able to make her day a little better with a small act of kindness. 

9.

Despite the chaos of my week, I discovered a moment of purpose today. 

Driving home from school, I passed by an old friend. Although he has moved on to college, everytime I see his maroon ‘02 Cherokee, it reminds me of our friendship. As he passed, I remembered learning of his grandmothers’ death a few days ago. In the business of my days, I seemed to have let this fact slip past my consciousness…but I knew what I needed to do. 

I believe there is beauty in simply letting people know you care- that you are aware you cannot change what has happened but still offer yourself in sacrificial friendship So I texted him, offering condolences, and let him know I was there if he needed me. 

We all have these moments, these small instances where we can speak up or act on something we believe in, but the loud noise of everyday life deafens us to their calls. Finding awareness of these calls is one key to finding purpose in our lives. 

10.

It is a stressful time at dance because everyone is preparing for our performances of "The Nutcracker."  When I got there, I saw a 6 year old girl on the verge of tears, as she did not have any hair supplice with her and she could not do a bun for rehearsal. Luckily, I always come prepared and even offered to do her bun for her. I saw her anxiety reduce rapidly and she was so happy to have a neat, sturdy bun for rehearsal. 

11.

Yesterday I went to the Saint Patrick's Food Pantry in Burrillville RI. I went with some students that I lead in my middle school campus ministry house. We got there and immediately got to work by folding over 140 cardboard boxes and then preparing each box with muffin mix, pancake mix, chocolate covered pretzels, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, corn, fruit, maple syrup, onions, carrots, potatoes, apples, and more. We were only there for an hour, maybe a little longer, but it felt so good to know I was helping so many people this Thanksgiving. I also loved seeing the middle school students getting so excited to fill the boxes and work together to get everything done. Our service trip was a success! 

12.

My brother worked really late last night and was not awake when I got up. I left the house to go get myself breakfast. As I was pulling out of the driveway, I saw my brother's car and decided to get him a chai, his current favorite drink. I got him a chai and a sandwich and brought them back home for him for breakfast.

13.

  I helped a friend clean up a mess.