I love the FISH philosophy. It goes back to my freshman year when I started volunteering with the YMCA at Virginia Tech as a freshman at Virginia Tech. A section of the four-part FISH philosophy is to “make their day.” That part of it always really stood out to me.

And so, today I was going through my Facebook and just catching up on messages and notifications, so I really was cleaning house. I found this in my inbox, from nearly a month ago, from an old classmate:

“Hey Justin! I know I only had a class with you last year, but I just wanted to let you know that you are awesome! I have been following your Facebook and everything you have been working on, and really hope you get the TED talk. You seem so involved with so many things on and off campus, yet still have time for others. You are truly leaving behind a legacy everywhere you go, and I know many others who look up to you as well. I want to be like you when I grow up [:)]”

She, no doubt made my day.

Oh, right. And then I found another old message, after I replied to that first one. And My mind was blown. I couldn’t believe I had missed two such meaningful messages, that were almost back-to-back chronologically.

Another student, one who I had never met but had Facebook friended me, wrote a longer message, that was exploring her opportunities in getting involved on campus. She talked about how she was involved with leadership, and things in high school, but some personal things held her back from getting involved in her first two years, and she wanted to efficiently make a mark on Tech in her last two years here. She signed off her message by saying,

“Sorry if this is super awkward. I know you don’t know me but I have just seen the impact you have made at Tech, so I figured I would take a leap of faith, and ask you.”

Why me? I’m so honored, but why me? This is what I mean by making someone’s day when they least expect it. She saught my advice – and she got it – but she made my day because I knew I was helping her.

I have so much respect for people who will go out of their way to make someone’s day, whether they mean to, or not. It’s fantastic.