When seeing Mrs. Patel the university student might've gotten a sense of nostalgia, as Mrs. Patel reminds the student of their own grandparents

The student could've shovelled Mrs. Patel's driveway because they believe in "Good Karma", or the belief that "whatever you put into the universe comes back to you"

The student sees Mrs. Patel, an old lady in need who requires assistance. This observation might've guided their decision to help the old lady or not

The student knew to step in when they analyzed the situation. A poor old lady with a full mailbox and a snow-filled driveway who might slip or have trouble leaving their house

On the other hand, the student knows to hold back if they have something more pressing to get to, such as running late for an exam. Or any other pressing extracurriculars, like a family member that is in the hospital. All these examples should guide the student's decision to hold back

The student could've made assumptions, such as if Mrs. Patel had money or money from an elderly pension to hire someone to shovel her driveway

Mrs. Patel could also have family, like grandkids, who could shovel her driveway, or give her support in any way she needed. Which could've dictated whether or not the university student should help Mrs. Patel

The student could've assumed Mrs. Patel is an old, grumpy lady who doesn't want help