In the BEd (Bachelor of Education) program, we have been learning from Dr. John Tyler Binfet and Dr. Sumer Seiki about the vast impacts of everyday kindness. Our class has been assigned the task of performing a variety of kind acts to impact the wellbeing of ourselves and those around us, and the results have been astounding. In our undergraduate programs, we often sat beside students for weeks without getting to know them, but the kindness project forced us to take risks by forming new relationships with our peers and community. We saw firsthand that kindness has the ability to change the atmosphere in a room, immediately connecting strangers on a deeper level. Because of the project, we have more empathy for others and more happiness in our class. We want to encourage others to tap into this joy by being kind to people they might otherwise overlook. If a series of small acts could transform our class, just think of how it could impact the UBCO campus community! It can be as simple as sharing a kind word or treat with a friend, or anonymously helping a stranger. You can learn more about the research behind how kindness impacts wellbeing in Dr. Binfet's published work.
These photos are examples of some kindness projects. One group set up a "kindness kiosk" offering free handmade cards, candy, and hot chocolate to the UBCO community during their lunch break on Wednesday, October 11th. Other groups have brought snacks to the back of our class to share throughout the week.
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