MISSION: The Power of One.

I’ve been itching to do a mission lately, and I finally decided to do one today. As many of you know, I work at a fairly large university here in Pittsburgh. Today marks the end of the second week of the beginning of the academic year, and I thought it might be nice to leave a little act of kindness on campus for someone to find in the hopes that it will inspire him or her to start the semester off with the desire to make a positive difference in the world. I’m a huge fan of Quotable Cards‘ products {as is evidenced by the fact that I have my very own SAL magnet with them} and thought this was the perfect way to send the message that one person truly can make a difference.

DATE:
Friday, 2 September 2011

OPERATIVE:
Secret Agent L

LOCATION:
Women’s Restroom
Bayer Hall
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA

TIME:
10:48 a.m.

Around 10:30 a.m., I typically pry myself away from my desk at work and go to the Starbucks on campus to get a treat. I don’t have a window in my office {yes, feel sorry for me}, so sometimes I just need to take a few minutes to go outside and breathe in some fresh air and feel natural light on my face. It’s gorgeous in Pittsburgh today, so I definitely picked the perfect time to do a mission.

I was excited to use my updated SAL business card–much simpler and cleaner. I like it.

 

And, of course, I’m a huge fan of Quotable’s products, especially their cards and magnets. I’ve used them in numerous missions, and the company even offered me a licensing agreement to make a magnet out of the SAL official motto: Be Kind. No Exceptions. {You can purchase a magnet of your very own!}

This quote by John F. Kennedy is one of my favorites, because I really believe the truth in it. One person absolutely, positively can make a difference. And every single person on this earth should try.

 

I am really proud to work at a university where service to others is the absolute focus of the mission statement. We have loads of student volunteers on campus, and we even offer classes where a service component is built right in so that students are required to go out into the community and engage in a way that makes the learning experience about more than just themselves.

On my way to get my morning Starbucks treat, I slipped into Bayer Hall for a few minutes to complete my mission. There were students everywhere! I didn’t have any other choice but to sneak upstairs to the third floor ladies’ restroom and complete my mission there.

It felt good to be “in the field” again. I was able to complete the mission without anyone coming in while I was there, but no sooner did I exit the restroom than a woman slipped in right after me. There were also two women standing directly outside the door, talking up a storm, but I just stayed focused, moved with purpose, and got out of there. I definitely earned my iced decaf caramel mocha after that!