Jackie Hyland: The meaning of kindness

If you look up the meaning of kindness you will find it's being considerate, courteous, helpful, and understanding of others. Showing care, compassion, friendship, and generosity. Treating others as you would like to be treated.

Last month, my younger daughter came home from school and announced she was "Student of the Month" for kindness! I was thrilled - what an amazing and special honor.

From the moment my daughter was born, she has had a special and unique quality. She is friendly, warm and considerate. She emails and calls me all of the time after school just to ask me how work is going. When I had the flu in January, she sat with me for hours. We talked and she would get me whatever I needed to make me more comfortable. (I only allowed her to be so close as she had the flu shot!)

Not long after she got the award, I was at a volleyball tournament and I ran into her principal. He asked me how my daughter was liking school. I told him how delighted I was by her "Student of the Month" award for kindness. He immediately told me how important the award was and how difficult it was to earn.

In this fast paced world we live in, I am delighted that schools in North Carolina are spending time to reinforce this important topic.