Story By Delaney Judkins
Photography By mckendreeu
Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness
Life at McKendree is full of energy— buzzing with students juggling classes, athletic events, student organizations and campus traditions like Homecoming or Into the Streets. But with the hustle and bustle, we often miss the small things that make our McKendree community so wonderful.
If you a see piece of trash on the ground, regardless of if it’s biodegradable or not, would you go throw it away? A random act of kindness is not for the benefit of being validated for it. It’s the idea that doing these little things will better yourself and others. Though a random act of kindness can be small, the impact can be great. At a time when stress can run high and students are navigating big transitions; these small acts of compassion can make all the difference. At McKendree, we pride ourselves on being a close-knit campus, and with a student body that values connection and service, it’s no surprise that random acts of kindness are a natural part of life here. But we still have work to do in growing kindness on campus. Whether it’s a smile in PAC, someone holding the door open to 1828, or a classmate offering their lecture notes—it all adds up to something bigger. Being a good person makes others good too.
Here are a few examples of the quiet kindnesses that may have been missed on campus:
- Sticky Note Surprises: Students have been spotted leaving encouraging notes in restrooms, library cubicles and dorm elevators. Little messages like, “You’ve got this, Bearcat” or, “Take a deep breath—you’re doing amazing.”
- Free Snacks/supplies: During the stressful semester, places like the Lair, hall bathrooms and even classrooms have little goodies or supplies as a fun pick-me-up.
- Campus Compliment Pages: Not only do students get positive encouragement from peers, but the professors and faculty make sure spirits stay lifted on Brightspace, the classroom whiteboard or even the first page of the test—spreading positivity one post at a time.
- Helping Hands: From tutoring sessions in Clark Hall to spontaneous study groups, bearcats are always willing to lend a hand (or a highlighter). But the hardest part is asking for help- and that starts with you.
How To Spread Kindness at McKendree
- Start small: Compliment someone, hold the door, ask how someone’s really doing.
- Leave a kind note: In a random place like library books, stairwells and bulletin boards.
- Be someone’s crutch: If they need help and they don’t notice it, be the first to notice and act on it.
- Celebrate someone else’s success: Even if it’s just clapping louder after a presentation, a game or during practice.
FUN FACT
According to “The Science of Kindness”, written by Cedars-Sinai staff, when people perform a random act of kindness, the brain releases several feel-good neurochemicals including dopamine and serotonin. This activates the reward area of the brain, kind of like the feeling of crossing something off your to-do list. That satisfying feeling also triggers a release of oxytocin, the “love hormone”, which improves one’s mood and reduces stress. So, the next time you think about being nice to someone, you’ll notice how good kindness makes you feel.
Why It Matters
When people choose kindness, it creates connections. It makes this campus feel a little more like home—not just for one person, but for everyone, including someone who might really need it that day. That’s what it means to live out McKendree’s mission of fostering a caring, inclusive community.
When walking across campus, look for a small way to brighten someone’s day. A kind word, a helping hand, picking up trash someone dropped and throwing it away or a simple smile. It might seem small, but here at McKendree, it could be the spark that draws the flame.
Stay Kind, Bearcats!
