Courtesy of The Mossy Log Archive
For many at Lewis & Clark, a visit to the Bon last year came with more than a meal — it came with a moment of encouragement. Behind the register, law student Mthabisi George Sibanda LLM ’25 became a source of light, greeting students with handwritten affirmations taped to the kiosk; small but meaningful reminders to students that they mattered. What started as a spontaneous act soon became a campus tradition.
In an email exchange with The Mossy Log, Sibanda reflected on how a few handwritten notes grew into something larger: a reminder of empathy, connection and the impact of seemingly small acts of kindness.
“It actually started on a random day,” Sibanda recalled. “I saw a student who looked completely defeated. I thought, ‘What if they saw one little word that reminded them they matter?’ So, I wrote something small on a sticky note. The next day, someone thanked me for it… and it just became a thing.”
At the time, Sibanda did not anticipate the impact of his note.
“I thought it would be one of those things people notice and forget five minutes later. But then, the notes started living their own life. People would stop, take pictures or smile quietly. That’s when I realized, sometimes the simplest gestures speak the loudest. People rarely require much from you: they just want you to be kind.”
These notes did more than brighten the days of students — their effects carried to his life as well. A note that stuck out in Sibanda’s mind was one that read, “You’re still becoming who you’re meant to be, and that’s enough for today.”
“[It] came from my own battles; with my health, with feeling unseen, with trying to find my place in the world. It was me talking to myself as much as to anyone else,” he said.
Life as a law student at LC’s law school influenced Sibanda’s perspective on the world, affirming his dedication to humanity, inclusivity and justice.
“Sitting in my Animal Law classes was special. It hit me that law could protect those who can’t speak for themselves; even animals. That realization made me emotional. I thought, ‘This is what justice should look like; wide, kind, and inclusive,’” he said. “I didn’t come from a background where people ‘knew lawyers,’ but I always knew what it felt like to want fairness. Law, for me, became a way to fight for dignity, not just mine, but for others too.”
After his graduation this past spring, Sibanda is continuing his studies at the University of Arkansas where he is reading for a Master of Arts in speech communication and rhetoric.
“Right now, my path is more academic and communicative: teaching, researching, writing,” Sibanda said. “But animal law is still part of my heartbeat. I think everything I do now, especially around empathy and ethics, still carries that spirit. I still want to write more articles that will communicate for animals. I still want to champion the cause of sentience in my writing, particularly where law is concerned.”
Sibanda is still unsure about which specific career he is pursuing. Looking ahead, Sibanda is hoping to blend his love for law, writing and communication into something that reaches more people through teaching, policy or advocacy.
“Personally, I just want to keep growing into someone who inspires hope wherever I go,” he said.
While Sibanda has continued his education beyond LC, he commented on what he misses most about its campus.
“The people, without a doubt. The small ‘Hi, George!’ moments, the laughter at the Bon, the way community just naturally formed there. LC has this special kind of warmth that stays with you. This has just made me realize how much I miss my LC people.”
To students who might be feeling overwhelmed, like many of us were last year and are now, Sibanda reminds us to calm down and be kind to ourselves.
“Breathe. Please, just breathe. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Sometimes surviving the week is the victory. Be kind to yourself: rest, eat, talk to someone. You’re not behind; you’re human,” he urged.
If Sibanda could leave an affirmation for us at the register today, it would be this: “You made it this far, and that’s not luck, that’s strength.”
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