Here at UVA, we pride ourselves on living under the honor code to which students keep each other accountable. We pledge not to give or receive aid on assignments and exams and leave our laptops unattended in the library confidently knowing that no one will touch them. This trust formally exists on an academic level, but in order to have the best college experience that we can, we need to come together and intentionally show kindness towards one another. Truly establishing a safe and supportive environment requires participation from everyone, but seeing as how our community has recently united, I know it is possible for us to create a permanent sense of compassion.
There are so many easy ways to help out our fellow wahoos and make their days a little bit better. When you’re out with your friends, look out for one another and make sure no one is by themselves. If you recognize that your friend is struggling with school, relationships, or anything else, ask them how you can help and check in on them. If a stranger looks lost or confused, see if they need anything. Tell the bus driver and dining hall employee “thank you”. Giving small amounts of our time and efforts for others can be inconvenient at times, but you never know how much of a positive impact your actions can truly have. Here’s an anecdote for you: one day during the beginning of my first year, I was looking for a place to sit in Nau and realized that there weren’t any empty spots. I asked a girl sitting by herself at a table if I could sit with her, and she flat out told me no. Excuse me, Gretchen Wieners? I was new to UVA and took the rejection too personally, but as I moved on and continued looking for a place to sit, another girl at a table close by immediately told me that I could in fact sit with her. She heard my previous conversation and thought it was really rude of that girl to turn me away for no reason. Faith in humanity restored!
Three years later, I still remember the kindness of the girl who offered me a seat at her table. I don’t know her name, but that seemingly inconsequential moment really made a difference for me that day. When faced with a decision over whether or not to act selflessly, we won’t always make the right choice, me included. My hope is that we can collectively develop an attitude of consideration for others and therefore benefit the entire UVA community every day. Can we do it? Don’t be Gretchen Wieners!