For Harris Middle School (HMS) librarian Megan Lawell, extending kindness to others is more than an incentive to focus on one week out of the year. For her, it’s a way of life worth teaching to others.
“Kindness Week is a nationally recognized week that we wanted to include at HMS,” said Lawell. “Our school is a place where outsiders are quick to say and repeat negative things, but HMS is my home, and these are my kids. When you love something, you want others to love it too. Mrs. Zarate and I used this week as an opportunity to showcase our students, teachers, and programs here at our school.”
During Kindness Week, students participated in “kindness bingo,” where they completed tasks such as sweeping a classroom, picking up trash in the hallway, giving someone a high-five, letting someone else go first, thanking a school resource officer, or sitting with someone new. According to Lawell, about 100 bingo cards were completed and turned in for a chance to win a prize. The teachers also encouraged students to wear specific colors each day to show their support of kindness, and staff and students purchased “candygrams” for $1.
The candygrams, which were sold the week of Valentine’s Day, not only offered uplifting messages, but students raised an astounding $400, which they donated to the Shelbyville soup kitchen. Last year, they raised $500 for New Destiny Dog Rescue.
“I love going to work because I see the children at Harris as my own children. I think every educator feels this way. I want to see them grow, be better than they were yesterday, take pride in what they are doing, and see that what they do matters. I want the students at my school to see and believe that they matter. I look at our community as if it is my family, so I want my ‘children’ to be better, smarter, stronger, etc., than myself.”
Lawell continued, “Kindness is important for so many reasons. For me, it is loving our neighbor. We must teach kindness, as it doesn’t come naturally. Showing kindness to others helps our own mental state. When we are doing something for others, it can take away our stress and improve our mood. When I turned 35, it was a downtime for me, so my children and I made a list of 35 acts of kindness. We delivered cookies, flowers, visited people, called family — it helped take away the sadness and turned it into joy as we loved those around us.”
HMS celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
“Over 40% of our student body is Hispanic, so we want to recognize this strong presence. In the past, students have worn traditional dresses, performed traditional dances, sang, and brought dishes to share with their teachers and their classmates.”
The library is currently sponsoring “Attitude of Gratitude — Thank a Teacher for a Pie.” Students are encouraged to write a letter to a teacher that has made a positive impact in their lives, and these will be mailed to the teachers. Students will then have a chance to win a pie.
Lawell spent nine years teaching at Community High School (CHS) and loved every minute of it. However, when she heard the news that a position was opening in the library at HMS, something within her felt a surge of excitement.
“I didn’t even know I was ready to move into the library position until that moment. I left something wonderful behind at CHS, but sometimes, you have to lay down what’s good to find what’s best. It’s a blessing for me to be at the same school as my own children. I am now going into my sixth year, and it’s truly the best job ever. I am a teacher, party planner, storefront designer, reader, crafter, gamer, lifelong learner, and encourager — all wrapped into one,” said Lawell.
She and her husband, Ryan, are both from Bedford County and have been married for 17 years. They are active in their church and enjoy going on adventures together with their three children.
“‘In these bodies, we will live. In these bodies, we will die. Where you invest your love, you invest your life,’” quoted Lawell. “This is a line from a song by Mumford and Sons titled ‘Awake My Soul.’ It is my desire that when people look at me, they see what I love. I love Jesus, my family, my community, reading, adventure, and so much more. I pray that what I love overflows and encourages others to love deeply, too.” GN
