To the girl I met outside of the Habit in Isla Vista,
You have a heart of gold. There aren’t many people like you in this world. We need some more.
Thursday, December 1, 2016. Dead week.
I’m walking back from my last Black Studies class of the quarter. I’m stressed out and I’m tired. My friend, Courtney, is joining me on my walk back to my apartment. Courtney, too, is tired and anxious about finals. All we can talk about is how upset we’re going to be if we don’t get an A in our GE class.
It would be the end of the world if we don’t get that A. As in, it would be even worse for us to not get that A than it would be for the world if Kim and Kanye got divorced. It would quite literally be the worst thing to happen, ever.
Courtney and I are so lost in our conversation that we completely ignore the man who is asking for money just beside us on the sidewalk.
This was when you came walking toward us. Instead of completely ignoring the man, you walked directly to him. You didn’t ignore a human being like we did, unintentionally. You were so casual, so cool, calm, and collected.
“Hey! What’s up, man? Are you hungry? Come on, let me buy you some lunch,” you said, as if you knew the man.
Courtney and I look at each other. It’s dead week. Nobody gives a damn about anything but studying. We can’t focus on anything but our grades. Heck, nobody even gives themselves the time of day to prepare a decent meal. But you, you choose to give someone the time of day. You gave someone who is asking for help the time of day.
We continue our walk to our apartment talking about what a great person you are.
Not only did you make his day (I’m almost sure of it), but you made my day. You reminded me that there are still decent people in this world who can ignore their wants and needs for a moment to tend to those who need help.
You are a mensch. A mensch is a person of integrity and honor. I’d like to introduce this word into your vernacular (assuming it isn’t already) because this is the only word I know that can fully and accurately describe your character.
You were probably swamped with tests and papers like the rest of the student body. But instead of focusing on yourself, instead of trying to avoid a potentially awkward situation, you acted like a human being, a mensch, and treated this man to some lunch.
How often do you see people deliberately walk out of their way to avoid houseless people who are asking for assistance on the side of the road? These people choose to avoid any potentially awkward situation which could make them uncomfortable. I have to admit that I have definitely done this before. I also have to admit that I am not proud of this. This is not right. A person is a person and there’s no need to ignore a person’s existence. No way, no how. Not ever.
So here’s what I want to do. Let’s start a movement. Let’s all follow in this young woman’s footsteps. Be a mensch. Be a person of integrity and be considerate of all human beings on this planet. When you see someone who may need some assistance, help out! If you don’t have the means to help out, then strike up a conversation. Acknowledge a person’s existence. Smile, ask how their day is going. When someone says hello, respond. Let’s make kindness a thing again.
Avoiding potentially awkward situation is so 2016. Welcome to 2017, be a mensch.
And to the girl who I met outside of the Habit in Isla Vista, if you’re reading this, let’s be friends.
Happy Holidays,
Hannah Ellenhorn
