More Than Nice: Students Redefine Kindness in Action

For some, kindness is simple and everyday. English teacher Jamiah Bennet said, “One of my favorite ways of showing kindness is just smiling at people and acknowledging them when I see them, because a smile can go a long way.” Marguerite Pennington ’28 posed a similar opinion, saying that “kindness means small acts like holding the door for someone.” Ariel Adams ’27 also pointed to holding doors as a “small but meaningful habit” that makes a difference in daily life. 

Others creatively suggested kindness activities. Anoa Dawson ’28 proposed one to see “who can give the most compliments to each other,” an easy way to spread positivity across the campus. James Ganter ‘27 took a playful approach, suggesting the use of  “love punches” among friends to show affection. While humorous, his response emphasized that kindness can be playful too, reminding us that even “a silly inside joke” can lighten up someone’s day.

Empathy is another key theme of kindness at Hopkins. AP Physics 1 teacher and Robotics Club Advisor Lynn Connelly described kindness as something that “is spread through empathy.” Similarly Emily Dinesque ’29, shared a moment from orchestra that reflected this sentiment: “I was really struggling with my cello part and starting to feel frustrated. My friend noticed and came over to sit with me. He showed me an easier way to practice the section and encouraged me not to give up. His kindness made me feel supported, and it helped me play with more confidence.” 

Several students recalled moments of sudden and unexpected kindness. Vivian Zhong ’27 recalled being at a store last Christmas when “the lady in front of me paid for me.” For Roselyn Shen ’27, a simple conversation led to a new friendship. She shared how “a girl that I didn’t know well but really wanted to know better had a conversation with me when I really needed it. The conversation turned out to be fantastic and was really helpful. Now we’re best friends.”

At Hopkins, students and teachers both see kindness as an important value for a positive school community. Spanish teacher Gabriela Gerstenfeld described it as “understanding, listening, connecting, and respecting,” noting that it is “fundamental for mental health.” Her examples are simple yet practical: “making eye contact, smiling, saying thank you and good morning, and checking in when someone seems to be unwell.” Richard Helmy ’28 offered a slightly different view, calling kindness “overvalued but less understood.” For him, it is not about making grand gestures, but about “not putting your needs first all the time” and “taking other people’s feelings into consideration when making decisions.” Ganter expressed similar feelings, saying that “Kindness is many things. It means socially accepting, giving, and taking when necessary.” 

Despite varied perspectives, many agreed that kindness is common at Hopkins. As Nathan Dai ’27 put it, “The Hopkins community is generally kind. I don’t really see many people who are trying to be mean during their normal lives.” Whether through a smile in the hallway, help during orchestra rehearsal, or a door held open, kindness at Hopkins shows up in many ways.