Doing a good deed is no longer what it used to be. In the past it was what was expected of people and nowadays it is an outright surprise, and a great one at that! Doing something good for someone else can definitely make us feel better about ourselves. And it’s true! Take it from Aaron Hunro, 21 year old, fourth year student here at UCR. When I stumbled across Aaron’s YouTube video: UCR Water Crusade, I was amazed at what I saw. A young man who was having a bad day who decided to do something nice for the community rather than focusing on himself. In the video, Aaron goes to his local supermarket to buy some water bottles, so that he can drive around handing them out to the people of the UCR community on a scorching summer day. When I first saw Aaron’s video, I will admit that I was baffled. Why was he doing this? He wasn’t getting anything in return. But then it hit me, the point isn’t really about the gesture, but about respecting yourself and others, and about offering the kindness of your heart to a complete stranger. And it can be as simple as holding the door open for someone, or smiling at a person when they walk past you on the street. So go on out and try it! You’ll be surprised at how it can brighten even the darkest of days.
Basics
Age: 21
School Year: 4th Year
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Major: Theater: Film-Making & Pre-Med
Relationship Status: Dating
You can find him at: www.youtube.com/user/aaronjrhimself, aaronangkor.khmerican.com, @aaronjrhimself (Twitter & Instagram)
Getting to Know Aaron
Current Occupation?
I coach youth Flag Football for the Moreno Valley Jr Falcons football program. I am also a Medical Assistant at a clinic for Yoh! Healthcare, overseen by Johns Hopkins University to provide free healthcare for Pepsi employees.
Are you involved in any on campus activities?
I’m the team captain of the Avengers, an Intramural Flag Football team. I played football in high school at Long Beach Poly and I missed it so much so I started playing my 1st year and I stuck with it ever since.
What made you want to pursue your major?
I made random videos in high school and I just love making videos and entertaining people so that’s why I chose Film. And I choose Pre-Med because I want to go to medical school and become a pediatrician. In the future, I see myself practicing medicine, more specifically pediatrics. I also plan on going on more medical mission trips, continuing to make videos and music , as well as finding the time to coach my kids’ sports teams.
What made you want to start the UCR water crusade? And will you be doing it again?
I was having a bad day which was all part of a bad week, but my mom gave me the idea to balance negativity with positivity and therefore I thought it’d be nice to give out cold water to people around Riverside, (since everyone knows, it’s beyond hot in Riverside during the summer). I always love helping people and after doing the UCR water crusade it definitely made me feel better while making people’s day in the process. I definitely want to do it again (maybe around the time school starts back up) with others’ help this time since I got such a great response from other students.
What do you think about the saying “doing something good for someone will make you feel good”?
Definitely a true statement and I am a strong believer in that. I just hope others realize it also.
What made you start wanting to “pay it forward”?
I was raised to do good deeds for others who are less fortunate and also just for people we see everyday. My dad and I call it “soul food”, every day you should try to do something good for others to feed your own soul. In 2004 we started a “Thank You America” Thanksgiving meal program that feeds the homeless and hungry around Thanksgiving time in the Inland Empire. So I guess it’s just in my blood to go out an help others even when it’s “unnecessary” because it’s still necessary and natural for me.
What advice would you give to people who would like to follow in your footsteps?
Just by everyday doing something that will put a smile on someone’s face or benefit someone else. It doesn’t matter who or how many people, how big or how small the act is, just as long as you make a positive impact in one person’s life that should be enough “soul food”.
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I have heard elderly people say that our generation lacks respect and no longer wants to be good just for the sake of being good. What do you think about this?
I do see that within our generation and I think we’re stuck in the “Me” mindset. The mindset that we just need to look out for #1, ourselves, no body else. Just “Me.” And I think that’s a shame because so many eyes are on us, the past generations and the future generations. And we should step it up and actually restore faith in humanity and society today. I mean, if people see us doing more good then I think it can go a long way because it influences more people to be good and do good.
I saw that you had a couple Batman logos from the video. Would you say that he’s your source of inspiration?
Haha. Batman is definitely my favorite superhero. People always criticize him for not actually being a superhero because he doesn’t have any powers but honestly, that’s what a hero is. Just an ordinary individual doing extraordinary things to help others.
What is your favorite thing about UCR?
The diversity! Coming from an inner-city high school in Long Beach with 4000+ kids, we had blacks, whites, Samoans, Hispanics, different Asians like Cambodians, Vietnamese and Filipinos, just a lot of different races and ethnicities. It made me feel more at home because it reminded me of how different we are yet we all can coexist with one another.
Who would you like to see perform at Heat this school year?
Besides me, haha just kidding. Childish Gambino for sure! (Unless he’s coming to Block Party). I look up to him and admire him so much. He raps, writes scripts, acts, does comedy. He’s an all-around type of person who not many people know about. That’s what I respect about him and that’s what inspires me. He’s such a funny guy and a great rapper even though he’s faced a lot of criticism his whole life.
Most memorable moment at UCR?
During my 1st year I performed at Gamma Phi Beta’s “UCR’s Got Talent” talent show and I recited a poem that I wrote for my dad in front of 200+ people, while he was in attendance. It was really special and definitely one of my most memorable moments.
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Most interesting thing about your summer?
There’s not really many interesting things that go on during summer school but I’ve had quite a few adventures and exciting things happen to me. Hands down it’s gotta be coaching the kids flag football team. They’re 3-6 years old, barely learning how to play football, they cry, complain, push and shove each other, jump on me and ask annoying questions! But through all the chaos, I can always count on them to put a smile on my face and everyday I look forward to going to practice to coach them.
If you could only watch three movies for the rest of your life, what would they be and why?
The Dark Knight. For obvious reasons. Remember the Titans, because it’s one of my favorite sports movies of all time, great story and great morals & themes. Finally, I’d have to pick 300. That movie always gets me pumped, it’s action packed and makes me feel like a BEAST after! Haha.
Any advice for incoming freshman?
You get what you put in. If you come into UCR with a negative mindset and poor attitude, hating on people, starting drama, etc. then that’s all you’re gonna know at UCR. So instead, try reaching out, being friendlier to people, say hi to your classmates, hall mates, professors and people around you. Finally be positive and just get ready for any obstacles that come your way because you can and will get through them!
Is there anything you’d like us to know about yourself?
I’m a very ambitious person and sometimes people say I’m a little too ambitious and that I need to stop doing too much but that’s just my nature and that’s me. I’m passionate about my family and friends, sports, music, film, medicine and helping people! I’m looking to publish a paper about Cambodians in Health Care, I’m hoping to send a short film to a film festival, planning on dropping a mixtape soon and I am going to Cambodia to teach English at our family’s public library as well as participating in a medical mission during Winter Break! All a part of the master plan and path to my future goals and dreams.