Random Act of Kindness

PAWWSH, which stands for the Panther’s Annual World Wide Scavenger Hunt, is organized through UNI students and is based on GISHWHES. The scavenger hunt is held annually through UNI, and includes participants, both young and old, who want to undertake this hunt. Items on the list are based on amazing and sometimes life-changing activities that will bring smiles and laughter throughout the Cedar Valley and spread worldwide! Besides bringing these core values into people’s lives, we also want to help those who have continuously given their time and talent to help others. We will have items on the list that will involve completely random acts of kindness that you will pass on to others. Each student involved with PAWWSH will have fun and gain valuable leadership experience.

I was asked by my professor to join the team for PAWWSH. I really wanted to participate in this challenge because I was given more exciting news about all the tasks and challenges I was about to complete. So due to schedule conflict, I helped out with a task participants had to complete.  The challenge that I helped with was a 20-second video showing this challenge:  Challenge a UNI Athlete to a game of hopscotch.  The video must show the athlete losing and the athlete must be in his or her full UNI team uniform, including the athlete's name and team in writing, at the beginning of the video. Watch the video below to how I helped both my teacher and fellow classmates complete this challenge. The purpose of the challenge was to show that everyone loses sometimes and the importance of being a team player and a good sport. It is important to practice good sportsmanship in everything we do. It was difficult for me to lose on purpose, because to those who know me, I am very competitive.

Watch my participation in this challenge here:
http://youtu.be/SBKobzNFVh0

Doing a random act of kindness is something many of us should try to do on a daily basis. It doesn't always have to be a monetary contribution or giving time, it can be as simple as giving someone a smile or engaging them in a conversation. You never know what someone else may be going through in their life or what he or she is dealing with. For example, if you're going through a drive-thru, either a fast food place or for coffee, a simple task is to buy the coffee of the person behind you. They then maybe will do the same thing or pay-it forward. You never know exactly the impact you can have on someone's day or life with a small act of kindness.

            Completing a random act of kindness makes me feel good, knowing that I was able to help someone out and possibly make their day better. If someone helps you out, you will be more willing to help someone else as well. By me doing this, it helped the team try to achieve their goal. I would like to encourage you do something randomly and see the effect you have on someone. You should do it not because you think you will be rewarded or praised, but because you want to make a difference. Be grateful every day you wake up and you’re able to do what you can do. Remember, there is always someone who is worse off then you and may not be able to do what you can. Everyone has a weakness, but instead of focusing on the weaknesses or disabilities, let’s focus on the positives/strengths, and pay it forward. So today, tomorrow, or this weekend take part in a random act of kindness!!

My teacher, Marty Hansen, and my peers took 3rd place out of 15 teams and 90 participants.

Have you done a random act of kindness for someone recently? If so Share it with PAWWSH on their website click here. http://www.unipawwsh.com

To read more of my personal community involvement click here.