top of page

Unexpected Kindness at Harvard University

Elizabeth Miri | The Monarch Ranger


Dunster House at Harvard University, Image Credit: Abigail Miri -- Managing Editor of The Monarch Ranger


CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS – What would you do if you found a wallet filled with multiple credit cards and cash on the side of the road? One night on the streets of Cambridge, this very situation presented itself. A wallet belonging to a Harvard student was returned completely intact by an anonymous custodian.


Harvard sophomore Catherine Miri lost her wallet one night while going to get a late night snack. Her credit cards, cash, and even student ID were all gone. Normally, losing something of that value is hard to find, or more realistically, lost forever. But to her surprise, a kind and honest custodian found it on the sidewalk and returned it to her completely intact. He could have easily taken the money or not even bothered to pick it up, but he did the right thing and returned it to its rightful owner.


Victoria Li, Catherine’s roommate and friend, told The Monarch Ranger about a similar experience saying, “most of the time when people lose their IDs it will get returned. I also lost my credit card in the beginning of the year and someone returned it, which was very nice.”


She also commented that “I would like to say this is an indication of the honesty of Harvard students, but it could also just be that she got lucky.” It can be difficult to tell someone’s true motives when they return lost items, but in the end, Catherine’s wallet did get returned intact.



While these events show that goodness is still alive, does this prove that there really is hope for our future? Upon further investigation, there are some signs that point to an unexpected kindness on our college campuses.


Another of Catherine’s roommates, Olivia Glunz, generously gave The Monarch Ranger an interview about her experience in college. She noted that in her experience, “people are generally very caring, outgoing, willing to talk, and to make friends.” While there are definitely downsides and like everything, college isn’t perfect, she is making the most of her college experience by exploring a wide variety of subjects including history.


While these are only a few examples of kindness on campus from Harvard University, there is no doubt that this is not the only place where kindness blooms. Almost anywhere you go there is good to be found – it may just be a little hard to see.




ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


A special thanks to Olivia Glunz, Victoria Li, and Catherine Miri for sharing this story with us.

Comments


bottom of page