By Anthony, Holly, and Joanna, Catholic Partnership Schools Healthy Courier | Let people know you care, avoid criticizing or judging others, and don’t blame others. That’s the advice of Ms. Best, St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral School’s guidance counselor, who teaches students how to share and spread empathy.

Ms. Best defines empathy as the ability to relate to someone’s feelings and emotions in a way that you can understand what they feel.

When asked what ways students can show empathy, she said, “Be understanding, ask questions, try to be non-judgmental, and listen actively. … Let friends know that you understand how they feel.”

Ms. Best also educates students about how to understand their own emotions.

During the school year, almost one in four students are bullied in U.S. public schools, according to the National Center for Education statistics.

Ms. Best said having compassion can lessen bullying. “The more compassion you have, the less bullying there is. Bullying is all about fear, all about criticism,” Ms. Best said.

She also said the bully may be reacting to criticism they have received. It takes empathy to lessen the act of bullying.

In discussing teens’ insecurities and judgmental behavior toward others, she said that with concern, “You’re not in competition with everyone else; you’re in competition with yourself.”

Illustration by Maria, eighth grade, Catholic Partnership Schools.