Morally speaking, each of us defines our own character based on personal ethics, integrity, and interacts with the world using a unique moral compass. In the fall of 2018, the first-year seminar class at PSULV delved deep into the philosophical origins of these elements. From culture, to parents, to friends, and even random circumstances, we analyzed, discussed, and debated social and personal ethics, decision-making, intentions and purpose, and the development and acceptance of a personal identity based on the beliefs that they held true. Some students experienced an awakening while others reevaluated their actions to better align them with their morals, beliefs, ethics, and values.
Students had an opportunity to put their learning into action in the final team project of the semester. They worked together on a project to join the Compassion Games, an international organization that invites people around the world to inspire one another and promote acts of compassion. Students challenged the campus to complete 500 random acts of kindness in one week. For each act of kindness, a leaf was added to the Tree of Hope located in Centre Hall. The tree stood as a daily reminder of how even the smallest act of kindness contributed to a community of compassion and inspired everyone to think beyond themselves. It grew more lush each day as hundreds of leaves were added…many said the spirit on campus grew more positive as well.
Students were responsible for all aspects of this challenge; they planned and hosted a kickoff event to present the challenge to the campus, built the Tree of Hope, created marketing videos, encouraged support from classmates, faculty and staff, and created a video documenting the process and final outcome. The video has been shared on the official Compassion Games world map. First-year seminar students brought the campus community together and generated an energy that rippled through finals week. The tree was a visual representation of everyday kindness. They made kindness contagious as people read the various acts printed on the leaves and were reminded to take a few minutes each day to hold a door, buy a coffee, or help a fellow classmate study. These students did more than a final project, they made an impact and put Penn State Lehigh Valley on the (Compassion Games) map.
With a final tally of 525 random acts of kindness, the Tree of Hope was proudly displayed through finals week. Instructors Kate Morgan and Teri Kistler reflected on the semester with pride and are eager to begin planning for fall 2019. Let the Compassion Games continue.
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