Student Spotlight: Hannah Frame

Year and Program: 3^rd year student, Doctoral of Audiology program.

Q: What does kindness mean to you?

A: To me, kindness means choosing empathy and patience, even when it’s inconvenient. It’s taking a moment to see people as human first, recognizing that everyone has their own challenges, and sometimes small gestures of understanding can make a world of difference. Kindness is being careful with yourself and remembering to treat yourself gently. Kindness is doing the little things that might not feel important.

Q: Why does kindness matter—why be kind?

A: Kindness matters because it builds trust, connection, and safety. In both professional and personal settings, kindness encourages openness and vulnerability, which are essential for growth and collaboration. It also has a ripple effect. When we experience kindness, we’re more likely to extend it to others. In the clinic, I try to remind myself that yes, this is my job, and it can be easy to become impatient or frustrated, but for our patients, this is their life, and our care is impactful. Being kind truly makes a world of difference for our patients.

Q: What makes kindness particularly important in graduate school versus everyday life?

A: Graduate school can be an incredibly stressful and isolating time. Kindness helps foster community and remind us that we’re all learning, growing, and sometimes struggling together. In an environment that often emphasizes performance and competition, kindness allows space for authenticity, support, and shared success. In this environment, I encourage a positive attitude. You create your own reality and I encourage graduate students to create a world where you feel excited and happy for your peers.

Q: Please share a memory of a moment when someone else was kind to you in a way that was impactful.

A: I think kindness can be shown in a lot of different ways; whether we show kindness with our words or actions, it can still be impactful. A few weeks ago, I went to the store without my credit cards. I rely way too much on Apple Pay! The store I was at did not have the ability to take Apple Pay and the woman behind me stepped forward and offered to pay for my things. My total was only $5, but this wasn’t about the money—it was that someone else was willing to help a stranger, only because they wanted to! This was truly impactful on my day and overall had me feeling lighter. It reminded me that even a small gesture of kindness can turn someone’s entire day around.