Listen Here
By Erin Moran
morane@findlay.edu
Students and staff walking through Old Main may have noticed notes with messages of encouragement, kindness, and positivity put there by the students of Dr. LaBuda’s social psychology class last week.
As part of a lesson on prosocial behavior, Dr. Jessica LaBuda shared how the notes were an accessible way to demonstrate the effect of positivity.
“We wanted to come up with a way that we could easily change someone’s day in a positive way – even if just for a brief moment,” said LaBuda in an email interview. “The goal was to demonstrate that it sometimes does not take much effort to create an environment of positivity and support. Also, coming up on the end of the semester, we figured people could use some positive messaging and encouragement.”
The notes featured a range of uplifting messages aimed at encouraging students passing by, offering reminders of motivation, hope, and positivity.
Caden Ehgotz, a sophomore psychology major and member of the class, said the experience was both meaningful and enjoyable.
“Kindness means having empathy for others,” said Ehgotz. “I thought it was fun and I liked that everybody did something pretty different.”
From Theodore Roosevelt quotes like “Believe you can and you are halfway there,” to more generalized advice such as “a positive attitude will lead to positive outcomes,” the notes are intended to brighten someone’s day.
Both LaBuda and Ehgotz noted the impact of the notes and the visibility of the messages on campus.
“I have heard students say that they are cute, and it is nice seeing people spread positivity,” said LaBuda. “Many students have also agreed that they want to see more of this type of thing around campus.”
“I’ve seen the notes all over. I didn’t realize there were that many, said Ehgotz. “I’ve enjoyed it, and I’ve heard a couple of people talk about it.”
Kindness requires action, and on a college campus, where students are faced with challenges every day academically, socially, and emotionally, small acts such as positive notes have a larger impact than one may think.
“I think the world can feel unkind, and being able to foster kindness in a college community is extremely important,” said LaBuda.
Kindness can carry more weight than realized, particularly in a college environment.
“Feeling seen and cared for is a basic human need, and even on this micro-level, I think it can make a tiny difference,” said LaBuda.
“I think everybody should do it,” said Ehgotz, referring to the spreading of kindness through the notes.“It gives you an action to put towards kindness.”
“I think we all deal with struggles that we don’t see, especially on a college campus, and it’s important to remember that,” Ehgotz shared.
This activity serves as a reminder that kindness doesn’t always need to be elaborate or have a spotlight to be appreciated. Sometimes, a few words on a note from an anonymous person can brighten someone’s day, leaving a lasting impression.
