Spreading Kindness Close to Home
Letters of Love Chapter President Malik Smith ’27 of Moorhead shares why he chose to stay close to home for college.
Malik Smith ’27 | Moorhead
Major: English with Communication Arts/Literature Education
Choosing Concordia
My story is like many others: When you’ve lived in one place for a long time and get the chance to explore somewhere new, you usually want to take it. That was me during my college search. I was looking for any opportunity to leave the Fargo-Moorhead area. It wasn’t because I hated it here — far from it — but because I was ready to start a new chapter in my life. I looked at colleges in the Twin Cities, Wisconsin, New York, and even Arizona, dreaming of calling a new and unfamiliar place home.
But ultimately, my biggest setback was the cost of going somewhere else and living on my own, so I decided to stay in my hometown. I’d also say part of it was because I was a mama’s boy and couldn’t imagine living so far away from my mom. I looked at Concordia and North Dakota State University, both of which I had originally applied to as safety schools. The decision came down to what each school could offer me financially.
At first, I thought NDSU was where I would end up until I talked to my admission representative at Concordia. I told her my main concern was paying for college and, at the end of our meeting, she said she would talk to the financial aid office to see what she could do. That same day, just a few hours later, she came back with a completely new financial aid package. That’s when I knew. It wasn’t just that the cost was lower; it was the effort and care that really made the difference. I felt valued and seen, like I truly belonged here because someone went out of their way for me. In that moment, I didn’t feel like just another number; I felt like a person who mattered. And ever since, I’ve known I made the right decision.
My New Home
I moved onto Concordia’s campus in August 2023, ready to start this new journey in my life. I didn’t know what to expect coming here other than what I had heard from my friends who already attended Concordia. But I was destined to make the most of this experience, and I did. I became highly involved on campus because that was one of the most important things I wanted to experience.
In the last three years, I have been involved in several different clubs, ensembles, and campus jobs:
All of these have brought so many different learning experiences that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It is because of these opportunities that I have thrived on campus and become the person I am today. The people I have met through these groups are the reason Concordia has felt like home to me. I couldn’t imagine my Concordia experience without them. When I tell prospective students and their families when I give campus tours about the community atmosphere, this is what I mean. It’s the people at Concordia — students, faculty, and staff — who make this place truly special. I could go on and on about the individuals who have made all the stress of college worth it, but you have to experience it to really understand it.
A Love for Learning and Teaching
I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in third grade. My teacher at Ellen Hopkins was the person who had me dreaming of becoming a teacher when I grew up. As I grew older, I continued to have incredible teachers who inspired me and gave so much to me. My teachers at Moorhead High — Ms. Bondy, Mrs. Peterson, and Mrs. Meyer-Larson — solidified my passion for education. They were the backbone of my decision to pursue teaching because I wanted to be the kind of teacher they were for me. Fun fact: Ms. Bondy and Mrs. Peterson are both Concordia alumni, so I always feel like I have a piece of them with me here.
I originally started at Concordia as a chemistry education major because of my love for science, inspired by Ms. Bondy, who I had as a science teacher for two years. I eventually realized it wasn’t the right fit for me and switched to social studies education, but I didn’t feel like I truly belonged. Finally, I found my home in English education and, honestly, I have felt great ever since. The English department has changed my life. I want to give a shoutout to Dr. Amy Watkin, Dr. Stephanie Lemmer, and Liz Pilon. They have reignited my love for books and writing, and I am thrilled to go out into the world and make a difference, one book, one paper at a time.
A Passion for Spreading Kindness
Letters of Love is a global nonprofit organization with a mission to change the world by writing handmade cards for children in hospitals across the United States. I first heard about the organization from a friend who was involved with it at MSUM, and it immediately seemed like an incredible initiative. I started researching how and why it began, and the more I learned, the more passionate I became.
Here at Concordia, we turn passion into purpose.
Service has always been something I love, whether it was being part of student council in high school or going on Habitat for Humanity trips at Concordia. Because of that, I wanted to bring Letters of Love to Concordia. Here at Concordia, we turn passion into purpose and that is exactly what I set out to do. During the summer of 2024, I spent hours completing the application to start the club. I did not have to, but I was so passionate about the mission that it became my goal to make it happen. Within five days, I found an advisor, recruited interested members, and wrote the club’s constitution. My first-year academic advisor said that most people take months to complete that process, but I was determined to get it done.
Letters of Love Concordia officially became recognized as a campus club in September 2024, which was one of the best days of my life. But the work did not stop there. Even though we were officially a club, there was still so much to do. The executive board and I worked hard to gather materials, do outreach to campus, and reserve rooms. We officially had our first meeting in January 2025, where 44 students packed into ISC 201 and made 91 cards. The feeling I got from going through the cards and knowing that Concordia contributed to spreading love and kindness around the world was truly surreal. I have grown so passionate about Letters of Love that I hope to bring it to my future school when I’m a teacher. More schools need to have this club, especially when our world has been so full of hate. We should be spreading kindness instead, and that’s what I plan to continue doing after I graduate from Concordia.
Published January 2026