Date: 09/07/25 

The importance of modelling for student behaviour. 

As a young educator, I make a conscious effort to lead by example and model the behaviours I expect from my students. Throughout my career, I have never been late to a session - a deliberate choice to demonstrate the importance of punctuality and commitment. I also uphold the same standards I set for my learners: I do not shout, use inappropriate language, or break any of the rules that form the foundation of our classroom environment.

Despite my consistency, I often observe students testing the boundaries of these rules. I recognise this as a natural part of adolescent development and classroom dynamics. However, my classroom is built on mutual respect. When this respect is compromised, I take the time to address it directly and constructively with the student involved. I explain my perspective, highlighting the importance of maintaining the standards we’ve collectively set.

Recently, a student told me that I scare them. When I asked why—pointing out that I never raise my voice—they responded by saying that my calmness is what makes me intimidating. They were accustomed to adults, including past teachers, responding to conflict with yelling. I explained that I choose not to yell because I believe it reflects a loss of control and undermines the professional image I strive to uphold. More importantly, it risks damaging the rapport I’ve worked hard to build with my students.

I believe this approach models emotional maturity and effective conflict resolution. I have experienced students shouting at me out of frustration or anger, but I’ve found that by remaining calm and composed, I can help them reflect on their emotions and the root cause of their behaviour. This creates space for us to focus on solving the problem rather than escalating the conflict.

In doing so, I hope to instil in my students the understanding that respect, emotional regulation, and empathy are powerful tools - not just in the classroom, but in life.

Kindness Is the Best Approach: A Reflection on Compassion in a Fractured World

In the fast-paced, performance-driven, and increasingly digital world we live in, the value of kindness can sometimes seem like an afterthought, a soft skill easily dismissed in favour of more quantifiable traits like ambition, efficiency, or intelligence. And yet, when you strip away the noise, the deadlines, the metrics, and the expectations, one truth remains: kindness is essential, not optional,  in any profession that involves working with people.

Whether you are a teacher shaping young minds, a nurse offering comfort in moments of vulnerability, a cashier serving customers during a long shift, or a CEO leading a corporation, kindness should be the foundation of your interactions. It's not just about being nice. It's about being human. It's about choosing empathy over ego, patience over pride, and understanding over judgment.

The Quiet Power of Kindness

Kindness doesn’t always announce itself. It’s not always the grand gesture. Sometimes, it's as simple as listening without interrupting. Sometimes it's as simple as holding the door, remembering someone's name, or offering reassurance when someone feels unsure or defeated. These small acts may seem trivial, but to the person on the receiving end, they can mean everything.

We often underestimate the ripple effect of kindness. One moment of compassion can soften a hard day, restore someone's faith in humanity, or even change the course of a life. In the same way that cruelty can be infectious, so too can kindness; it spreads quietly and powerfully, from person to person.

The Professional Need for Kindness

In any job that involves people, and truthfully, most do,  kindness is not just morally sound, it's also practically effective. A kind leader builds trust. A kind teacher creates a safe space for learning. A kind colleague fosters collaboration and motivation. Even in high-stress environments, like emergency rooms or courtrooms, kindness doesn't negate professionalism; it enhances it. It calms the chaos. It builds bridges. It makes difficult conversations more bearable and outcomes more humane.

Professionals who lead with kindness are often remembered long after their titles are forgotten. People don’t tend to remember exactly what you said or did, but they remember how you made them feel. That emotional imprint, that feeling of being seen, valued, and respected,  is what leaves a lasting legacy.

A Society Forgetting How to Be Kind?

It’s hard to ignore the growing sense that kindness is becoming rare, or at least, that it’s undervalued. With social media rewarding outrage, competition at an all-time high, and economic stressors putting pressure on everyone, it's easy to become self-focused, impatient, and cynical. People are rushed, overwhelmed, and overstimulated. In such an environment, kindness can feel like a luxury, something to offer only when we have extra time, energy, or resources.

But maybe that’s exactly when kindness matters the most, when it’s inconvenient, when it’s hard, when we are struggling. Kindness isn’t about being perfect. It’s about choosing to respond with care even when we have every excuse not to.

And we need to remember: kindness is not weakness. It doesn’t mean being a pushover. It doesn't mean tolerating bad behaviour or avoiding boundaries. On the contrary, kindness often requires incredible strength, courage, and restraint. It means staying centred in compassion even when others don’t. It means choosing grace over retaliation. That kind of strength? That’s the kind the world desperately needs more of.

Please, Don’t Forget to Be Kind

So here is a heartfelt reminder... for me, for you, for all of us:

Please don’t forget to be kind.
When you're tired. When you're right. When you're frustrated.
When it feels like nobody else is.
When the world feels cold, or loud, or unforgiving.
Especially then.

Kindness is not just about making others feel better. It’s also about who we become in the process. It builds our character, deepens our relationships, and roots us in something much bigger than ourselves. And while we may not always know the impact of a kind word, a gentle tone, or an act of patience, those moments accumulate. They matter.

Kindness is not outdated. It is not overrated.
It is, and always will be, the best approach.