As I was scrolling through my newsfeed one day, I came across a video titled “Kids Decide Between Helping the Homeless or Ice Cream.” The emotionless person I am told me to keep scrolling, however, something inside of me made me click on the link.
In the video, a homeless person is positioned on a sidewalk next to an ice cream truck. A parent hands their child a dollar and lets them run happily towards the truck. As each child approaches the truck, they pause for a moment, look at the homeless person, look at their dollar, and make a decision. The struggle is evident in their eyes, but despite their love for ice cream, three of the four children hand the homeless person their dollar and run back to their parent with smiles as wide as the Grand Canyon. As the fourth child approaches, she contemplates and walks to the ice cream truck. Her father’s face appears to be disappointed, however, she defies all judgements and hands her ice cream to the homeless person.
These selfless acts can be analyzed in a variety of ways, but overall, we see how innocence breeds kindness, and how society has not yet corrupted the decisions of future generations.
As a student at a public university in a large city, I have seen hundreds of individuals walk past homeless people without the slightest acknowledgement. Sadly, I have done the same. As we become more educated and socialize with more beings, we are influenced to make decisions that reflect society’s thoughts.
“Why would they ask college students for money? We’re broke too.”
“They’ll probably just spend the money on drugs.”
“They don’t look poor.”
These statements are just a few we hear or think as we pass a homeless person. But why do these thoughts pass through our mind? Would we still think this way if we hadn’t watched a movie where a homeless person spent their money on alcohol? Would we have given that dollar if our friend hadn’t made a comment 30 seconds before? Would we buy that person a meal if we hadn’t spent our cash on a lottery ticket?
We were all young once and saw the world as a blissful place. We learned that sharing is caring and that not everyone is as fortunate as we were. Our parents did their best to teach us right from wrong, and although we might have taken our sibling’s last chicken nugget from their plate, we tried our best to be kind and make our parents proud.
As you walk to class, work or to a restaurant this week, I urge you to think a little bit more before passing a homeless person. Would it kill you to give them the leftover 50 cents you have after buying a scantron? Are you really going to drink one of the five water bottles you have laying around in your car, or could you give it to someone standing at a freeway exit? Also, what kind of an example are you giving by just walking by or rolling up your car window?
It takes a little more effort to go out of your way and be kind but think about how happy you’ll make that person and yourself. Each child who sacrificed their ice cream ran away with smiles as wide as they are on Christmas morning. Setting an example is not just important for children, but for the many adults who take spare change for granted.
One dollar can be the beginning of a new life for a helpless person. Be the person who helps start their new life. Be the example for the pessimists around you. Be the kind child you were many years ago.
If you haven't watched the video already, I suggest you do. I can guarantee that your heart will be warmed, and your faith in humanity may be restored for a few minutes.
