If it’s true that we can learn something from every person we meet, then I’ve got somebody that needs introducing.

For those of you who are able to survive without the meal plan, you’re missing more than the food. You’re missing Ms. Sandra Patterson.

Although she’s an 18-year veteran of the University System, she greets everyone coming to eat as if it’s her first day on the job. She greets each and every stranger she sees as if they were an old friend and makes plenty of new friends along the way.

When I asked her how she stays so positive, she seemed puzzled, saying, “I never really thought about it, I guess. I have ups and down, too. I just try not to bring it to work. I just try to keep it joyful.”

As she spoke, she made sure to greet each and every student in that endless line with the same bright smile. Every student who saw her suddenly brightened up, as if there was somebody standing there with an armload of gifts and candy.

No candy, just a woman beaming with an inner light that blinds you as soon as you meet her. What can we all learn from this lady? Would it really be so bad to brighten up a little bit?

Ms. Patterson has the Christmas spirit year-round, and I don’t know about you folks, but I love the Christmas season. I love that it gives people an excuse to be nice to each other. How would it be if the holiday spirit could spread out past the current half of the year where it stays?

So I have a few ideas. I’m not going to tell you that there are ways to volunteer on campus. I won’t cheese it up any more than I already am with a bunch of “giving is better than receiving” talk.

I won’t even ask you to give random hugs, because that’s not my thing either. Instead, how about getting out of your seat on the bus when you see somebody struggling to grab the handles? You’ll be surprised how good that “thank you” feels.

To borrow a line from a dozen photographers, how about showing off those teeth your parents paid for with a smile? If you pass a stranger on the sidewalk, don’t nervously look down and to the side, look up and smile a hello.

Beautiful girls – smile at an ugly guy because it makes his day. Just be careful and make sure he’s not leaning on a white van or anything.

Why is this so foreign? People don’t even know how to respond to complements from strangers. A simple compliment such as “Cool sweatshirt, man” I tried the other day drew a deer-in-the-headlights look from the student. He didn’t know what was happening.

Later, I told someone his spray-painted gold boots would make Michael Johnson proud. Blank stare. Maybe he wasn’t a track fan.

It’s that whole “pay it forward” idea that there’s always somebody having a rougher day than you are, so lighten up. It doesn’t do any good to sulk around.

We can’t do any harm with being a little more upbeat, acting as if we have pulses. Need proof? Drop by Snelling next time Ms. Patterson is working.

- Marc McAfee is a junior from Kennesaw majoring in broadcast news.