World kindness day

​Kill ‘em with Kindness: If you Google kindness, it is a noun that is “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.” However, in reality kindness can mean different things to different people. That’s why I decided to ask our students and staff what it means to them. As you read their answers, think of the commonalities and differences. What do your peers think kindness is?
“Kindness to me honestly means standing up for what you believe in,” Spanish teacher Zoe Mullins said, “and giving other people the kind of treatment that you would like yourself.” Mullins seems to think of the Golden Rule. 
Who better to ask about kindness than our beloved Director of Student Life Stephen Belderes? 
“The first thing that pops in my head has got to be the golden rule.” Hmm, this sounds familiar does it? “That’s what overall kindness is. (...) The golden rule. Period. That’s what it is.” 
Well, it seems that some people have made up their mind: The golden rule, no question about it, but some students found different ways to define its meaning. 
Freshman class treasurer George Lugar 28’ “Kindness means respecting others and treating people how you want to be treated.”
Maggie Bibby ‘27 says, “Kindness is being honest and thoughtful.”
Huw Wente ‘28 thinks kindness is: “Greatness, because I think it brings all the world together.”
So kindness is a way we can all connect? A way for us to be unified in trying times? 
 Kindness and unity go hand in hand. 
Touching on this fact, DEI Director Debbie Taylor thinks it’s important to celebrate World Kindness Day, “Because the world we live in right now, we’re so self-absorbed, and so many people are doing so many unkind things. It’s just one day everyone can stop all around the world and just focus on kindness.” 
So, how have these people that shared with us their definition of kindness see it around them?
Well, let’s see. Wente thinks “It’s huge when people open the door for other people at this school.” 
“Recognizing that people exist. The smile, the wave,” Acknowledgement is key for Mullins and it seems like she agrees with Wente, it’s “the simple things.”
Sharmithaa Bhaani Maheswaran 26’ “People here, cause I just moved here and people have been really nice to me.” This ties in with Mullins' idea of acknowledgement, so is that the real act of kindness?
History teacher Dr. Daniel Hood “A major act of kindness I like to see is when there is a student sitting by themselves, or all alone and another student goes up to them and invites them to join in the activity.” 
Now we have a picture of what kindness means, treating others how you would want to be treated and a sense of unity. And a picture of acts of kindness, acknowledging others and the little things that let them know you care.

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