“Start With Hello Week” is September 18-22. You can learn about it through their website here. Read on to see what all the fuss is about and how you can participate:

Themes of the Week

“Meet-n-Greet” Monday

Actions you can take: Say hello to someone new! Say hi in the halls!

Theme: College Sweatshirt Day

“No One Eats Alone” Tuesday

Actions you can take: Invite someone to join you for lunch!

Theme: Twin Day

“Wear Green” Wednesday

Actions you can take: Promote random acts of kindness on this day.

Theme: Wear Green

“Thankful” Thursday

Actions you can take: Write and give a note of gratitude to show appreciation for the important people in your life.

Theme: Mentor Spirit

Remote Friday

Actions you can take: All are encouraged to think about ways to promote kindness and connection in their community.

Students may be wondering what this week is all about and why we should promote it, so we tried to answer some basic questions about it.

What is “Start With Hello” Week?

“Start With Hello” week is a meaningful event to help promote inclusivity, empathy, and help others build strong relationships with individuals they may have never even considered talking to. “Start with Hello” week is a time to reach out to other students and connect with them. During “Start With Hello” week, there are so many opportunities to improve someone’s day and treat others with kindness.

What is the point of this?

A simple greeting can change a person’s life in a variety of ways. Individuals often feel lonely, left out, or invisible but are not able to say anything. Reaching out to others can help break down this barrier of negativity with just a greeting. 

How did “Start With Hello” week begin?

It started out as a small idea to reach out to individuals who may feel left out and attempt to connect with them but it grew into a national awareness campaign that focuses on creating an inclusive environment for all individuals, especially young ones who may not know how to communicate their feelings to others. Such a simple act of kindness may not feel like it can have an impact on others but it immensely helps. Starting somewhere is always how big things arise such as improving a community.

How do students feel about this event?

“I believe it is important because there’s always going to be someone that needs someone else,” one Mentor sophomore says. “Even just a simple hello or spark of conversation could completely turn someone’s day around. Sometimes it’s scary to go up to someone new but it’s also scary being the person that’s approached. I think that having this go on for a week could spark an interest in the community to be more open and friendly, maybe even become something that is done out of reaction to seeing someone alone.”

“Our community needs more positivity,” agrees a Mentor junior. “Every community could use some, and I think this is a great way to incorporate it! Having a week that is all about reaching out to another person and being open is a great start to something that could lead to even bigger positive change.”

Overall, “Start With Hello” week is a wonderful movement that reminds us of the impact a simple greeting can have on our lives and the lives of others. It encourages us to step out of our comfort zones, reach out to others, and create a more welcoming and connected community. By embracing the values of inclusivity, empathy, and kindness, we can make a lasting difference in our communities. So, let’s continue to spread the power of hello beyond “Start With Hello” week and make each day a celebration of connection and positivity. Together, we can make the world a friendlier place!