Our 3-Year Junior Staff Member Dorothy Kuwana, Student Body Co-President at Cushing Academy, gave the following remarks on the subjects of kindness and empathy, at the opening convocation for the 2024-2025 school year. Transcript follows.
CUSHING ACADEMY, ASHBURNHAM, MA — “Good morning everyone! And welcome to the 2024/2025 school year.
I’m Dorothy Kuwana, and I am thrilled to be serving as your student body co-President. As we embark on this new academic journey together, I’d like us to reflect on two seemingly simple yet profound concepts of kindness and empathy. Similar to what Ms. Gardner just said.
Kindness at its core is a straightforward idea — treating others with consideration and respect. Yet, in practice, it can be beautifully complex. Trust me when I say this: It is not easy to be kind. Especially when we are facing our own challenges, or when we encounter perspectives different from our own. This is where empathy comes into play.
Sometimes the word falls short in capturing the essence of kindness. It’s a feeling. An action. A choice we make every day. In these moments, when language fails us, we turn to each other. We rely on our shared experiences, and our capacity for empathy to bridge the gaps between our understanding.
Empathy: our ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It’s about putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes. Even if we’ve never walked their path.
Our empathy becomes a fundamental tool that keeps us in line as we navigate challenging concepts and diverse perspectives.
Think about it. For some of us in this room, this is the first time having ever been to the United States. And for others, Ashburnham is a ten to fifteen commute from home.
When shared with kindness and received with empathy, our varied viewpoints allow us to pave a path to deeper connection and understanding.
As we start the new school year, practice kindness and empathy each day. It could be as simple as smiling at someone in the hall, opening the door, or taking the time to truly listen to a concern without judgement.
Every person you will shake hands with in a few moments has traversed a unique path that has led them to Cushing.
Your kindness could be the light that brightens their day, and your empathy could be the support that helps them persevere.
Embrace the nuances of kindness and empathy. These are not just ideas or abstract values. They are a powerful skillset that alters the way, and the rate at which we grow, learn, and interact with one-another.
It is important to treat others the way you want to be treated. But it is equally important to treat yourself the way you treat others. Your ability to be at present in this community and beyond, is dependent on how well you take care of yourself.
So get your three meals a day, your eight to ten hours of sleep each night. And remember to treat yourself with the same kindness, empathy, and respect you offer to others. You deserve it just as much as they do.
With kindness as our guide, and empathy as our tool, we unlock endless possibilities for communal, ethical, intellectual, and personal growth.
This is the start of an exciting year! “Roll Pens!”” (Audience cheers for school athletic cheer!)