At iLEAD Online, we believe in fostering not just academic excellence but also strong social-emotional skills. One of our Learner Outcomes focuses on cultivating empathetic citizens.
In our advisory classes, we dedicate time to social-emotional learning (SEL). Facilitator Jeanette Weiss recently inspired her learners to engage in random acts of kindness and then reflect on the impact of their actions through writing. This exercise provided a powerful opportunity for learners to connect their learning to real-world experiences and develop a deeper understanding of empathy.
One learner, Elijah L., shared a particularly touching example of how he chose to spread kindness. Recognizing that his mother could use his help, Elijah decided to unload the dishwasher and take out the trash.
Here’s what Elijah had to say about his experience:
This past week my mom has often come home tired from work, and it made me feel bad for her. For my random act of kindness, I unloaded the dishes that were washed and took out the trash to help take some work off of my mom’s plate. It always makes me feel satisfied and happy whenever I get the opportunity to help someone out like this. It makes me happy to know that I’ve helped someone out even if it was in a small way. My mom was very proud of me for doing that for her, and it helped cheer her up that night.
Elijah’s story beautifully illustrates the impact of kindness. His simple act of helping around the house not only eased his mother’s burden but also brought him a sense of satisfaction and happiness.
At iLEAD Online, we are incredibly proud of learners like Elijah who embody empathy. Through lessons like this, we aim to empower our learners to make a positive difference in their homes, communities, and the world around them.