One Simple Word That Breaks Down Barriers3 min read

When you spend most of your life in a place like Jackson, Mich., saying “hello” to everyone—including strangers—is the most normal thing. You never really think about the impact such a simple greeting can have until you’re somewhere else, or dealing with uncertain circumstances.

I really began to appreciate why “Midwest Nice” matters in 2019, on a trip with my church youth group to the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, Minn. That’s another place with a reputation for being nice, but still an adjustment going to such a big city for an event with nearly 20,000 other teenagers — enough to fill the Little Caesars Arena back in Michigan.

When I realized how easy it was to spot the attendees by the bright purple backpacks we received at registration, the big downtown suddenly felt a lot smaller. Plus, everyone was eager to share greetings, from “hello” to high-fives—and not just the kids. Regular Minnesotans saw the purple backpacks, too, and could pick out who was there for the event. Restaurant and hotel workers not only commented about how nice everyone was but would ask why we seemed so happy and what made our big Gathering so different.

I was grateful to be a part of this experience because it illustrated how a friendly “hello” goes such a long way not only to making new friends, but also to actually reaching people in their times of need. It meant a lot to me as a small-town kid experiencing the big city for the first time. That experience helped prepare me for the work I do with a vulnerable population near where I go to college.

For the last three years, I’ve lived in another close-knit Michigan community: Hillsdale College, a school of about 1,600 students where “Midwest Nice” is the everyday norm. In college, I’ve become part of Hillsdale College for Life, a student-led organization that promotes the dignity of human life and helps women in need. I’ll be president of the group this fall; we will work directly with pregnancy resource centers like Helping Hands in Hillsdale that provide ultrasounds, housing assistance, diapers, and education support to women who are facing difficult pregnancies—often alone, and often with few financial resources.

The most important thing I hope to leave with women at Helping Hands isn’t a lecture, but instead the feeling of being loved. I start by saying “hello” to these women, refusing to allow the politics of abortion to obscure the humans who are at the heart of the issue. When the politics of abortion clouds society’s conversations, we forget about the insecurities, vulnerabilities, and basic needs that lead a woman to consider abortion. But if we can drown out the political noise, we just might help change two lives with a “hello” and a loving smile.

That warmth and friendly greeting is what I’m looking forward to later this summer, when I head to New Orleans for my third Youth Gathering. This time it will be as a Young Adult Volunteer to help teenagers navigate things and make their own connections like I did. Just like in Minneapolis, I expect the kids coming this year will make a positive impact on the city by letting their faith show as they interact with businesses and residents and also give back through participation with local community service projects.

Living our faith involves a lot more than just worshiping on Sundays—we’re also called to serve our neighbors. Whether we’re serving expectant mothers, preparing meals for the hungry, or cleaning up neighborhoods, we open up the door to truly reach someone when we start with a friendly greeting that lets someone else know that he or she matters.

Most of all, I hope the teens at the Gathering see that in me, and it helps them understand that “Midwest Nice” can spread the love of Christ, and is just as relevant in Louisiana as it is in Minnesota and Michigan.

This article was originally published June 6, 2025 on The Washington Stand.

_{Photos courtesy of Kimber Walsh (Redeemer, Jackson)}