EDITORIAL: Become extraordinary
Last week, we were tipped off to two Central Michigan University students who created a library for some poverty-stricken students in Maseno, Kenya.
Cassidy Bloom and Tate Jenkins were two of 13 students who traveled to Maseno in May 2013 as part of a CMU psychology class to study Kenyan culture. What came next was nothing short of amazing.
The two began collecting the books and quickly, quietly changed lives through an unselfish act that took a large amount of time to accomplish.
These simple deeds are what puts CMU's students apart from other school's: Random acts of kindness.
Studying abroad has benefited students to give them an experience they won't likely receive here in the States. Rarely do the students exchange that gift for something else.
Going overseas for a year or even a semester will help the average college student not just academically, but with future job prospects. The majority of students who take advantage of the available opportunity to study abroad say the experience helped them to build their job skills in cultural training, communication and language proficiency as well as adapting to one's location.
Graduate school is in the bag with this on the resume. Securing a job within one year of graduation increases with a trip around the world.
There is more than the books, lectures and parties at college. It's also about discovering how to make a difference in the world.
Everyone has the ability to insert themselves into another person's life in a more positive way. Whether it is a group of people in another country who you met for two weeks or that student in your hall who doesn't talk to anyone.
Be that person to lend an ear. Be the one to invite them to eat with you.
It doesn't have to be a trip or retreat to find yourself as well as to discover how you can leave the world better than what it was.
Remember how much your parents would always push for openness and equal treatment? They did it for a reason. Sacrifice and ability go hand in hand.
These trips across oceans and nations formulate new values and continue to spread through some inner circles among the student body. Let's hope this recent act of kindness leaves an impact on each of us.
