With plans to become a therapist, Lander University freshman Dane Hill has already gotten a head start on connecting with peers.
Hill, majoring in psychology, has been keeping a pocket full of paper boats and handing them to fellow students.
“It was mostly a way to give people a small happy moment during tough moments like doing schoolwork or just sitting by themselves,” he said. “I never know what people are going through, and not everyone is going to tell me, so maybe I can still help by just giving people a small moment or a happy surprise.”
Hill learned to make the boats from a video and does it leisurely to pass the time. So far, he’s given away dozens of boats to students and said their reactions have ranged from surprised, happy and confused, but everyone has been pleasant, and some have thanked him for the gesture.
Hill says the boats aren’t the point of the gesture, but the symbolism is there. College can be a bit like navigating uncharted waters, but the Ninety Six native said his journey into college has been great so far.
“I love college a lot more than I loved high school and it’s a good place to reset.”