Pass it Forward

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the 50th Annual Alaska FFA State Convention, and it truly was the experience of a lifetime! From talking with FFA members, to workshops, to pre-session games, there was no shortage of fun and excitement. I have so many memories from my week, but my biggest takeaway has to be the kindness I was shown by Alaska FFA members, volunteers, and guests.

“Hey! Where are you from?” is how I typically start my conversations with FFA members I haven’t met before. Once you know where someone is from, there are so many questions to ask and things to learn after that! But one thing that surprised me about these FFA members is that not only did they tell me where they were from, they were excited for the opportunity to make a new connection. In each conversation, I got to learn about their background, their FFA story, and their passions and interests. What astounded me even more was that they would then ask those same questions right back to me.

In a world where it can be easy to move quickly from one thing to the next, these moments reminded me how powerful it is to simply slow down and be present with others. This made me realize that a lot of the time, we forget to reciprocate the kindness that is shown to us. But when we choose to pass it forward, our relationships, experiences, and even our world become more positive!

Beyond just conversations, these FFA members were always willing to do the simple acts of kindness. They held the door for the person behind them, helped someone pick up something they had dropped, checked in on each other, encouraged one another in their CDE/LDE contests, and even made sure to ask me how I was enjoying my time in their state. Although I was 3,000 miles from home, I felt like I truly belonged, and it was all because of the kindness I was shown. By slowing down to help and show kindness to others, these FFA members created an incredible environment. It takes thirty seconds to hold the door for someone else, but how many times have we skipped that small act of kindness because we were moving too fast?

As I reflect on this experience, I’m challenged to carry that same intentionality into my everyday life; to be more present, to ask one more question, and to take those extra few seconds to show kindness.

What places in our lives can we slow down and pass that kindness forward? Because even a little bit of kindness can make all the difference!

Passing it forward,

Kaitlyn Maruszewski

2025–2026 Indiana FFA State President