By being willing to give, help others, and have selflessness, it's a trait every person is bound to have: kindness.

Everyone has had someone do something noticeably kind for them. Whether that something is as small as a stranger saying “bless you” after a sneeze or as big as having friends throw you a surprise party. At Old Donation School, students and staff of the school were asked about their experiences with kindness and have been glad enough to share them with us.

After being asked about the kindest thing someone has done for her, one student, Hattie N., was reminded of her mother’s considerate and welcoming aura.

“My mom cares for me if I ever get sick. She cooks dinner for me every night and takes me to sports every day,” she said. “I don’t have, like, [one] really big thing. It’s kind of like small bits of kindness that happen over time.”

Another student, Sri A., had a similar memory in mind. She thought back to her last birthday when her mom made time to celebrate her birthday with her despite both of their busy schedules. An hour before her class had started, Sri’s mom took her to a few places to make space for celebrating Sri’s birthday. Thinking back, Sri remarked: “It was really nice.”

“When I had a newborn, people would bring me food, and it was really nice to have one less thing to worry about so I could focus on sleeping or taking care of the baby,” commented the 8th-grade Osprey civics teacher, Ms. Pullman. “Now, whenever I have a friend who has a baby, that's my thing. I like when people do an action. That's how you show kindness.”