Club encourages student kindness

Sophomore Olivia Santiago (right) makes cards for veterans during a lunchtime activity for Random Acts of Kindness Week.

The Random Acts of Kindness Club held Random Acts of Kindness Week from Monday, January 25 to Friday, January 29 with the intent of spreading kindness and happiness among the student body.

“This event is a week where our club encourages the whole school to be randomly kind to everyone, since it’s always the perfect time for a smile or a nice gesture,” senior Sarah Loebner said. “Sometimes, people forget that being kind to each other is such an easy thing to do.”

Junior Carolyn Yang founded the club last year as a part of her Sakala Peace Project, which required her to create an idea that would directly benefit the community somehow.

“Throughout the entire year, we give out stickers with smiley faces or give free hugs,” senior Angela Tang said. “Just little things that make people happy, because it’s the little things that go a long way.”

The club kicked off the week-long event on Monday by passing out “smile cards” at lunch. The smile cards consisted of index-sized slips of paper with the word “smile” printed across the front.

“The halls are a little bit happier already just walking around, and smiling at everyone like I always do has gotten so many smiles in return that I’m not used to getting,” Sarah said. “And even if not everyone participates, I think it is better to get some people involved than no people involved.”

Throughout the week, the club hosted a variety of activities in the quad at brunch such as making cards that people could write on and decorate for soldiers, senior citizens and their friends.

“The activities hosted by the club were a really great way to spread kindness,” junior Randy Gonzalez said.

Thursday was General Kindness Day, with no specific theme other than to exude a general sense of kindness.

“We aren’t trying to force lovey-dovey on people,” Angela said. “But everyday people go to school, and we all have days where we feel like crap and just need someone to give us a hug.”

Friday wrapped up the week with a Free Hug Day. Members of the club gave free hugs to passing students and encouraged all of the student body to do the same.

“As we grow older, people become more selfish and self-absorbed,” senior Jennie Nguyen said. “So when we have a week like this it reminds us that we should care more about people that are around us.”

Pleased with the positive feedback regarding the week, club members look toward next year, when they hope to host an improved Random Acts of Kindness Week.

“Overall, the week went a lot better than we thought it would,” Angela said. “And since this was our first year doing it, I think next year will be a lot better.”

The club hopes to continue this tradition by making it into an annual event.

“I think this week is the best week ever,” Sarah said. “I think that the students can really benefit from it. I think that if this week is successful, maybe every day can be a Random Acts of Kindness Day.”