Sophia Chheu (12)
How do you show kindness to yourself?
“How I show kindness to myself is having a ‘treat yourself’ day, where I prioritize myself and have a me-day. Oftentimes I would love to watch my favorite show “Breaking Bad” or go to the beach.”
What was one moment of kindness you showed to others?
“One moment of kindness was when I helped out at an after-school program and surprised the kids with a surprise bag of stickers and after playing hide and seek with them.”
What does kindness mean to you?
“I think kindness can be measured too small or big, or even caring for a person, including yourself!”
What are you looking forward to the most this school year?
“I am looking forward to graduating and leaving, especially starting a new chapter in life. I would love to explore what the world has to offer and continue as I grow into a young adult after graduation.”
David Dai (12)
Who is the kindest person you know?
“My mother is the most amazing and compassionate person I know. She has always gone the extra mile to ensure that everyone around her is happy and well-cared for. She is a great blessing in my life, from teaching me vital lessons to offering unconditional love and support. Her unselfish gestures of love and compassion characterize her as one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”
How do you stay positive about school?
“I stay positive about school through taking breaks when needed, connecting with friends, and setting achievable goals.”
Any words of encouragement to students?
“When it comes to school and academics, I have learned that proactively seeking help in times of stress is crucial for overcoming challenges. Additionally, I have found that talking through my concerns with someone can greatly reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.”
What is your favorite place to visit?
“When I need to get away from the rush of everyday life, I head to the neighborhood park’s basketball court. It’s a location where I can concentrate solely on the game, devoid of concerns or anxiety.”
Derek Chen (11)
What was one moment of kindness you showed to others?
“One moment of kindness I showed to others was throwing away trash left on the tables near the end of lunch.”
What does kindness mean to you?
“Kindness to me is being selfless and caring.”
What are some qualities you look for in a friend and why?
“Some qualities I look for in a friend are trustworthiness and having empathy for others.”
What do you like to do in your spare time?
“I like to play sports and video games such as basketball and Valorant.”
Isabel Ku (11)
Since this week is kindness week, what was one moment of kindness you showed to others?
“One moment of kindness I showed to others is when I helped someone catch up on what they missed. This person completely missed out on all their classes because of a school field trip that day, so I attentively took notes on what transpired in one of their classes and presented it to them later on.”
What was one moment of kindness shown to you?
“One moment of kindness I keenly remember occurred during the start of my sophomore year. Being someone who only entered the HLPUSD school district in high school, I knew pretty much no one. Thus, I was very happy when two peers in my AP Chinese class approached me and offered to be friends with me. I’m very grateful to both of them, and I’m still friends with them to this day.”
Who is the kindest person you know?
“The kindest teacher I know is Mrs. Bushyeager. She is lenient with deadlines and always provides encouraging and useful feedback. Additionally, she gives up a lot of her precious time for the CODE Team and Cybersecurity Team, and I will always be grateful for that. She even supervised my CyberPatriot team on Saturdays for 6 consecutive hours during rounds 1-3 and semifinals for CyberPatriot.”
How do you stay positive about school?
“While my workload may seem a bit much at times, I stay positive by enjoying the journey. One day, I won’t be in high school anymore, so I will try to cherish it while I still can. Even if I do not want to pursue a career that involves some of the academic subjects I am taking, I will look back fondly upon those experiences. I will always cherish the memories and friends I have made along the way.”
Nicole Pan (10)
What was one moment of kindness you showed to others?
“One moment of kindness I had shown to others was when I offered to listen in times when they needed to rant.”
How did that make you feel?
“It made me feel happy and relieved.”
What are some qualities you look for in a friend?
“Some qualities I look for in a friend are forgiveness and loyalty.”
What is your favorite snack and why?
“My favorite snack is popcorn because it is the perfect snack for when you’re watching a movie or simply hanging out after school with a friend.”
Taylor Hornell (10)
Who is the kindest person you know?
“The kindest person I know is my close friend Candice, she is always so considerate, helpful and understanding towards others.”
How do you show kindness to yourself?
“Some ways I show myself kindness is by allowing myself grace periods when I feel stressed or overwhelmed and by giving myself time to relax and forget about the world.”
How do you stay positive when it is hard to?
“I stay positive when it is hard by focusing on any possible positive aspects of what I’m dealing with.”
What are some of your favorite words of encouragement?
“Some of my favorite words of encouragement are ‘stay strong’ and ‘nothing is impossible.’”
What is your TV show or movie?
“My favorite movie is “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”
Lisa Yuan (9th)
Since this week is kindness week, what was one moment of kindness you showed to others?
“A moment of kindness I have shown to others is when I made a ‘365 reasons why you are loved’ jar for my best friend at the time, who was feeling isolated and having a hard time with the struggles they were going through in life.”
How do you show kindness to yourself?
“I show kindness to myself by appreciating my qualities as a person and remembering to be compassionate and forgiving when I make mistakes. Examples include reminding myself that I am only human when I feel insecure, and giving myself the benefit of the doubt by trusting my instincts when in self-doubt.”
Who is the kindest person you know?
“The kindest person I know is my mom, who has sacrificed their own dreams in pursuit of mine.”
What does kindness mean to you?
“To me, kindness is the act of selflessness done in the interest of others. It is when someone goes out of their way to do something that they know would make another person’s day, no matter how small that favor may be.”
James Chow (9th)
Why do you think it’s important to be kind?
“I think it is important to be kind because you never know what is happening in someone’s life. Maybe you being nice can make a difference.”
How does being kind to someone make you feel?
“Being kind to someone makes my day a lot better, and it probably will make that guy’s day better. Then they will do kind things to other people and it will spread.”
How do you show kindness to yourself?
“I show kindness to myself by reflecting on myself daily and investing in my interests such as guitar and basketball.”
Could you think of a time someone else showed kindness to you, and how did it feel?
“A time when someone showed kindness to me was when I was really busy for a week. A person offered me help at school and helped me out a lot with clubs. I am super grateful for what that person has done and this made me feel a lot more relieved and not overwhelmed.”
How do you show kindness to someone who is unkind to you?
“You show kindness to someone that’s unkind to you by guiding them into the right path. For example, go out of your way and smile at others and be friendly and cheerful to everyone you meet and maybe compliment them on small things.”
