By William Rowen Healthy Roar reporters | Healthy Roar reporters have been researching kindness and its effects on health. They have been inspired by the school’s Kindness Challenge. The purpose of the kindness challenge is to make yourself a better person by helping others, us- ing kind words, and preventing bullying. It was led by Mrs. Parker, the school counselor.

Kindness can improve your mood, self-esteem, and even your blood pressure, according to experts at Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic is a large, well-known hospital organization.

Reporters in Mr. Desper’s Room created a list of ways that anyone can show kindness. Their ideas include:

• Help someone with schoolwork.
• Give a compliment to someone.
• Use kind words such as “please” and “thank you.”
• Show appreciation to others.
• Get to know somebody by asking them about themselves.
• Be respectful to your peers and teachers.
• Use positive language to express yourself.
• Put trash in the trash can and items that can be recycled in a recycling bin. Empty snack wrappers can go to the box in Room 213.
• Teach younger students games during recess.
• Invite others to play or hang gout during recess.
• Donate to school fundraisers.
• Greet teachers by saying “Good morning!” or “Have a great day!”
• Cheer for someone.
• Smile at someone.
• Take care of school property.

Illustration by Iuliia, seventh grade, MaST Community Charter.