At Boston Latin School, you’re surrounded by students with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We all come from different places and carry different stories, and sometimes, it’s easy to forget that when we’re focused on our own busy lives.

Perspective-taking means making the intentional effort to understand where someone else is coming from. It’s about looking beyond surface-level behavior and asking yourself: “What might this person be experiencing that I don’t see?” This doesn’t mean you’ll always agree with others, but it does help you build empathy, reduce conflict, and treat people with more compassion.

Why this matters at BLS: BLS is a rigorous, fast-paced environment. Everyone is managing a lot, whether that is academic pressure, personal expectations, family responsibilities, or more. So when a classmate seems distracted, frustrated, or even short-tempered, instead of reacting defensively or making assumptions, pause and ask: “Could they be going through something?”

Example: If a group member misses a deadline, instead of immediately blaming them, try starting a conversation: “Hey, I noticed you didn’t get to the slides. Everything okay?” That small moment of empathy could lead to better understanding and stronger teamwork.