Lets go back to my freshman year French Class. My teacher, Madame Queenan, was the cutest old lady who always wore heels and well tailored skirts. While she didn’t emphasize vocabulary, or sentence structure, forget about conjugating verbs... we learned more about the culture and the people. While our French skills may have been lacking, all of Madame Queenan’s students walk away learning something even more important: how the be a better person.

Random Acts of Kindness.

Instead of assigning a lot of homework (actually she very rarely ever assigned homework) she would ask us to do one random act of kindness for a stranger. Then, whenever we had class next, she would go around the room and ask us about them. Now, you know how high schoolers are, and I’m sure some made one up on the spot, but those who were genuine, walked away from Madam Queenan’s French class with so much more than the ability to speak French.

I wish everybody could learn from Madamme Queenan.

I was reminded of her today, when my roommate baked for us, simply because her class got cancelled. She knew we were stressing about scheduling for next semester so she wanted to put smiles on our faces. In fact, it nearly brought tears to my eyes. At a time when she could have easily done something for herself, I know she is stressing too, she did something for others. We need more of this everywhere, this selfless giving to others. Giving time. Giving words of encouragement. Giving a simple smile is all it takes sometimes.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives, we forget we live in community. We think doing something for someone has to be this grand gesture. Random acts of kindness can be anything. Who doesn’t get excited when they go to get their coffee and the person in front of you has payed for you? Or when a classmate compliments you on your presentation?

Here are some other easy acts you can do today as a college student (or anyone, really) :

1. Send a letter or postcard to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.
2. When you go to the store, ask if anyone else needs anything and offer to get it for them.
3. Write a compliment on a sticky note and put it on a friend’s door. If you’re feeling adventurous you could also put one on a stranger’s door.
4. Thank your teachers after class. It’s part of all dance classes, but try it in your academic classes. Let your professors know you appreciate their hard work.
5. Go through your phone and any cute picture you have of a friend send it to them. Just remind them they matter to you. You could also post this on social media.
6. Sit with someone alone in the dining hall, get to know them.
7. Bring someone a coffee. (My favorite!)
8. Hold the elevator or door open.
9. Help someone study.
10. Put together a playlist of songs that make you happy and share it.

Its all in the little things! Make others smile, and you will find you're smiling too.