As summer winds down and comes to an end, this welcomes in another school year. This can mean a new classroom, a new teacher, new classes, and new extra curriculars. With all of these new experiences, I challenge you to make room for new friends. I am not saying to get rid of old friends, however, open your heart to the possibility of making new friends too. You never know what point in someone’s story you are joining. Someone could be going through the roughest chapter in their story and will need a kind and caring friend to be there for them during their storm. Someone could be in the best chapter yet, and feel they have no one to celebrate with them. I challenge you to show kindness to others no matter what chapter of your life you are in. If you are struggling to see the kindness, be the kindness. If enough of us show kindness to others, there will be a lot more inclusion. Always be the person to make more room at their table, never to make someone feel lesser for not having a chair. Invite someone new to sit with you at lunch this year. You never know who you will meet and the lessons they might teach you! Always be the reason someone feels included, not excluded. Be the reason someone sees their own inner beauty, reflected by your love and acceptance of them. As this school year starts, be the reason someone knows they are special and important.

You may never know the impact your actions may have on someone, and that is ok, but I promise you, you will never regret making someone else feel valued, however, you may always regret making them feel the need to sell themselves short.

Be kind, and be you.

Kennedy