Treat People With Kindness: More Than a Mantra

By HANNAH BENSON/Staff Writer

On a gloomy, cold, rainy day, UT Tyler student Carley Scroggins pulls her Kia Soul into a parking spot on campus. She stares at the rain trickling down her windshield and contemplates turning around and going back home.

To say she is not having a good week is an understatement.

She failed an exam for one of her most important classes, her dad just had surgery, and she found out that the place she worked was going out of business.

As she continues to think about going home and getting back into her bed, she is startled as someone knocks on her car window. She turns to see a girl grinning from ear to ear and waving.

“I absolutely love the sticker on the back of your car and I just wanted to say, ‘I hope you have a great day,’” says the girl with excitement and sincerity.

“Thank you, you too,” Scroggins replies as the girl runs off in the rain.

Scroggins begins to smile as she realizes that she is going to be okay and is strong enough to go to class.

The sticker on the back of Scroggins’ car says, “Treat People With Kindness.”

Growing up, Scroggins’ mother, Melissa Perez, preached this idea to her constantly but she did not do it in a way that most parents do.

“I did not want to simply tell Carley to go out and treat people with kindness,” Perez said. “I wanted people to look at her and know her for having a kind heart.”  

Perez made sure that her daughter did not just act kindly toward others just to do it, but that she had a kind spirit and was genuine. She made sure that every morning before Scroggins left for school, she gave her a kindness challenge.

It could have been something like bringing her friend their favorite snack, having to compliment 10 people, or donating money to a charity.

Perez said she wanted her daughter to grow up surrounded by kindness and fully understand the importance of it.

“I am so thankful for my mother raising me the way she did because I have been able to see what simple acts of kindness can do for people,” Scroggins said.

Scroggins said simple acts of kindness, shows others they are worthy of being treated kindly and are not alone in this world.

Scroggins recalled that she took a friend Ian French to lunch and he opened up about his struggles dealing with depression and anxiety.

“I am so thankful that Carley took me out to lunch that day,” French said. “She truly helped me realize that everything was going to be okay and that I was not alone.”

French got his mom to make Scroggins the Treat with Kindness sticker for her car.

He said that placing one of Scroggins’ favorite quotes on her back windshield is an opportunity for her share the deeper meaning behind the quote and the impact it has had on her life.

Since the sticker has been on her car, Scroggins has had many conversations with people about how much kindness means to her and how easy it is to
be kind to others.

Scroggins challenges people to do one simple act of kindness each day. She said that by doing this, she has been able to help people feel less alone and show them that they are worthy, loved and have a place in this world.