TCU Rocks spreads kindness one rock at a time

By Perrin Gilman, Staff Writer

Published Nov 4, 2024

A prospective TCU Rocks member stopped by tabling to scan the GroupMe code. (Perrin Gilman)

A TCU sophomore is using rocks to spread uplifting messages across campus. Maya Gonzalez, a nursing major, said she was inspired by the response she got in her hometown when she painted rocks and left them out in public spaces. “I started painting rocks during COVID and saw a big impact on my community,” said Gonzalez, who’s from Orange County, Calif. Gonzalez said she decided to start a club at TCU that would leave a positive impression on the community. She founded TCU Rocks this fall.

The Kindness Rocks Project started by Megan Murphy. (The Kindness Rocks Project)

The club is based on The Kindness Rocks Project, a viral rock painting phenomenon that was started in 2015 by Megan Murphy. Murphy displayed colorful rocks painted with inspirational messages along the beaches of Cape Cod, Mass. as a random act of kindness. Gonzalez hosted a tabling event on Thursday, Oct. 24 to promote the club. In addition to rock painting events, members will attend rock placing events where they will place painted rocks around campus with the hopes of brightening someone’s day.

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The importance of visual acts of kindness

Some examples of painted rocks. (Perrin Gilman)

Gonzalez said that seeing a random act of kindness can be what someone may need to encourage them to keep going. Chloe Threadgold, a junior child development major interested in joining TCU Rocks, said that this club allows people around campus to receive kindness in their own headspace. “You never know exactly when someone needs an act of kindness,” Threadgold said, adding that visual acts of kindness are more permanent than verbal ones.

The future of TCU Rocks

Gonzalez said she plans on hosting two events for the rest of the semester and hopes to establish the club’s foundation going into 2025. The first rock painting event is Monday, Nov. 4. from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the third floor of the Brown-Lupton University Union. The first rock placing event is Monday, Nov. 11. from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Frog Fountain. “I hope people will respond positively by taking pictures of the rocks, posting them and wanting to come and give back,” Gonzalez said. More information about TCU Rocks can be found on TCU Engage.