This past Friday and into early Monday, it was impossible to walk into Marcil without seeing a bright pink sticky note. These neon squares were plastered on every door, mirror, and window. Each had a positive comment or inspirational quote scribbled in various types of ink and handwriting. This act of kindness has left many students, myself included, curious about the perpetrators. Was this the action of a club or sports team? Maybe a group of friends trying to make a fun memory?
I assume that this was a collective act. As I mentioned, the notes all used different media: pen, Sharpie, pencil, etc. The handwriting also ranged from tight cursive to fumbled print. Despite the diversity of each note, they all appeared on the same pink sticky-notes. For those reasons, although I cannot be certain, I doubt this was done by a single person.
In all honesty, the person or people responsible for this do not matter; it’s what they did that’s important. Yet, I can’t help but find myself caught up in the anonymity of it all. Despite my questioning, I know my fascination is with the mystery, not finding the answer; I enjoy the speculation far more.
What was the intention behind this display of benevolence? It can be hard to imagine a group of people coming together in their free time to be kind with no secondary motive. Call me cold-hearted, but I feel like most people are too busy or too absorbed in their own lives and problems to take time to spread positivity to strangers. Maybe this was a required activity for a class? A publicity stunt for a club?
That said, I have been wrong before, and I hope I’m wrong now. If that is the case, and I’m mistaken, forgive me for assuming anything other than the best; just know, whoever you are, you have done something extraordinary.
Maybe that’s the point, the overall message that this performance is trying to send: take time to be selfless and spread some good in this world. It is your actions that matter, not who you are or why you do them. So I want to thank you, Stickynoters, for both the kind words and the excitement of a mystery.
Sincerely,
Emily Hedegard
