The effects of kindness by Cora
Coraof San Antonio's entry into Varsity Tutor's August 2017 scholarship contest
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The effects of kindness by Cora - August 2017 Scholarship Essay
College is a time where the people we grew up with leave the city, our parents become weekly phone calls and money seems scarce in comparison to our tuition. We are expected to have prerequisites before entering campus, and once we do, professors pile on to those prerequisites, making us feel inadequate to the knowledge they have to offer. It is very easy to get caught up in the academics of college, and then in the business aspects of life. What else is there to offer the world?
"Hello Class, welcome to Baylor University! My name is Professor McDaniel and you are in "An Introduction to Kindness". If you do not believe you belong in this class, or if you are an upperclassmen, the doors are on your left as you exit. To begin I would like to see how many Pre-Med students we have in class today, would you please raise your hand?" *Checks around the room counting* "Good, Good! How about Law students?" *Counts the hands around the classroom again* "Last, but not least, can I see the Engineering majors please?" *Counts twice as many hands as before* "Well I just wanted to say I think it is very commendable your commitment to your studies...but I have a secret! How many of you in this classroom today know that your education is not going to get you through life?" *Silence* "It may get you a six-figure salary and a spiffy piece of paper hanging in your office, but it will only get you that far. If any of you here in this room today would be happy with a six-figure salary and a framed piece of paper, could y'all just raise your hands for me?" *Counts five or six hands* "Okay, you're wrong. If you want to stay with me for class today I promise I can get you a more fulfilling life, if not, you saw where the upperclassmen exited."
"As I was saying, welcome to 'An Introduction to Kindness'. Here you will learn how to really survive after you leave Baylor, and how to thrive as a Baylor Graduate and bring a good reputation to our school. I am going to teach you how to dominate your life and make an impact on the people around you in three steps-are you ready?" *Class nods their heads* "Alright then. Let's begin." "Number 1: Smile. How likely are you to approach someone who is frowning vs. someone who is smiling? In addition to that, how likely are you to BUY something from someone who is smiling vs. frowning? A smile, a genuine smile, makes people feel at home and makes people feel loved, more importantly, it makes people spend money. Have you ever noticed how nice and accommodating workers at car dealerships are? Learn from the best ladies and gentlemen. Number Two: Give out compliments like they're candy. We have raised a comparative generation, too often I see young girls' and boys' self esteem damaged because they are the person that they were always meant to be. Do not compare yourself to others, 'Comparison is the thief of joy', and do not be afraid to compliment other people. You guys know the feeling you get in your soul when a stranger compliments you? That feeling that the world is at peace for a moment? You have the power to affect someone in the same way. Use it! And Number Three: ALWAYS stop at little kids' lemonade stands. We have no way of knowing how much of an impact we have on those kids' lives, and we all know that a quarter is not going to burn a hole in our wallets. Let them have fun, let them imagine, and be a part of the reason that they are able to."
"Class is dismissed. I will see you guys next week, Sic 'Em Bears!"