This article was originally published in the February 2026 print edition of The Bark, distributed at the University of Minnesota Duluth campus.

These ‘Stories of Kindness’ come from the first day of Jean Farrell’s Communication classes and are a way for students to introduce themselves. Not only do these stories help with getting to know one another, but it is also a reminder that despite what is going on in the world, we are surrounded by good people and kind acts!

Micah Snyder

“When I was over in Niagara Falls back in 2023, I was helping out Habitat for Humanity for around three days or so. A common misconception about Niagara is that, because of the falls, the town itself must make some decent money. In actuality, Niagara is a very poor community with very little money or people left to earn money, as any funds made from the tourist attractions (namely, Maid of the Mist, which, just to flex, I did get to ride) are thrown right back into the park. (Also note the massive casino that's not too far away from the city center or the falls themselves.) Because of this, our primary goal with Habitat for Humanity was to do general landscaping for those who couldn't. i.e., mowing, weeding, raking, etc. Another one of our goals was hosting gatherings for the homeless, where they could get something to eat or receive free blankets and bedding. Our group stayed for about three days before leaving.”

Wyatt Scanlon

“Last year in my senior year of high school I decided I wanted to help out and be a student aid for my mom who's a kindergarten teacher. I thought it would be fun as I get to leave the high school for an hour and have an easy way to end my day. I started by telling her I was only going to do it for the first trimester. But I ended up enjoying working with the kids so much and helping out I did it for the rest of the school year. What really made me enjoy it was the connection I was making with the kids, even though I would only see them for an hour everyday. Something else that really made me want to go back was a conversation that I had with my mom where she said some of the kids don't have a male presence in their lives. After hearing this I realized that I needed to go back to help keep a connection with them.”

Sareena Desai

Being a five year old, I loved playing games, running around, and winning prizes. The perfect place for that was Dave & Buster’s. My family and I would go there all the time. Usually, there were so many kids, like myself, having the time of their lives, but one day that was not the case.

One Sunday afternoon, my dad asked me if I wanted to go to Dave & Busters. Of course, I said yes. After a few hours playing games, I had enough tickets to get one prize. I eagerly waited in line, while my little eyes searched for the perfect prize: candy, stuffed animals, or toys. Finally, it was my turn, and I stepped up to the prize desk. There it was. Right in front of me. A fluffy, soft teddy bear. I wanted it.

As my dad and I were heading out, I jumped with joy, having acquired a new teddy bear. The joy quickly vanished when I turned my head and saw a girl, probably the same age as me, with no hair on her head who was crying in the corner. She clearly looked sick.

“What’s wrong with her?” I asked, poking at my dad. “She probably has cancer,” my dad responded. I did not really know what that meant at the time. Based on his tone, I knew it wasn’t a good thing, and I knew what I needed to do. I asked my dad if I could give my teddy bear to her to make her feel better.He said, “It is your choice.” So I approached her hesitantly and decided to give my brand new teddy bear away. When I gave it to her she smiled and said thank you. At the realization of what I had just done, her mom’s eyes turned watery, clearly appreciative of this gesture. “Thank you so much. My daughter has cancer so she does not get to go out as much. This means a lot to me and her.”

Being five years old at the time, I did not think much of this interaction. It might have been something small to me but it meant the world to someone else. Now looking back, I realize the impact this small gesture had on the girl and her family. Kindness is an easy choice. My parents taught my sister and I from a young age to always spread kindness no matter what. You never know where it can lead you. Fourteen years later, I get to share my story with “The Bark.” I hope it can inspire some people to display kindness no matter how small.