How My Honors Research Is Teaching Kids Empathy

What started as an Honors capstone project at Bentley grew into something I never expected: a children’s book and educational platform designed to help develop empathy. But I never could have written about empathy without experiencing it myself through professors who inspired my creativity and gave me the confidence to lean into what I love: writing, teaching, mentoring and entrepreneurship. It all came together in 2026 when I self-published “Marley’s Magic Overalls” and launched a website to help children see the world through someone else’s eyes.

Looking back on the process, it’s hard to pinpoint just one thing Bentley taught me about empathy and publishing a book. When I first arrived on campus, I wasn’t quite sure how I would fit into the culture. I liked the idea of “good business,” and I loved to write, but I wasn’t sure how they connected. Bentley allowed me to tailor my experience so I could express my creativity and pursue my passions in ways I didn’t think I would have in college.  

If someone were to ask me about the biggest lessons I learned at Bentley, here’s what I would tell them: 

Build relationships with your professors 

The number one tip I give to incoming first-year students is to build those relationships with their professors. My professors were so passionate and dedicated. They spent countless hours talking to me about school, work and life. They helped me see what I was capable of and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I don’t think I would have taken a leap to do something like writing a book if I hadn’t had those opportunities.

Stop overthinking and start acting 

I’m very much a perfectionist; I tend to overanalyze. One of the lessons I learned in entrepreneurship courses is that sometimes you just have to go for it and take action. That lesson came to life when my Honors capstone project was assigned, and a traditional research paper didn’t feel quite right to me.  

Focusing on my love for writing and teaching children, I considered a topic that I had seen working across settings: Children need practical, age-appropriate ways to name feelings and connect with others. I met with my professor and proposed writing a research-based children’s book and educational platform. Taking that risk allowed me to turn my passions into something tangible.  

Find ways to lead, even if you don’t feel ready 

When a professor offered me the chance to be a creative coach in a supply chain course, I said “yes” even though I was outside my comfort zone. It turned out to be eye-opening because I got to approach the experience through both a teaching and creative lens. I also got to be a mentor as a Writing Center tutor and through the Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center a helping to implement a 10-week team-building curriculum that complements physical education classes at local elementary schools. 

Embrace unexpected lessons 

Publishing a book went beyond writing. I learned how to simplify complex concepts for a youth audience by tailoring language and visuals to be developmentally appropriate. I designed and directed a vision. I even picked up technical skills learning to use AI-assisted coding tools to build my website!

Big Feelings, Big Lessons 

For me, all these lessons, in and out of the classroom, tie back to empathy in some form. And to be honest, it took me a while to grasp the concept. Looking back, that’s what makes “Marley’s Magic Overalls” more powerful to me.

Since I was a young girl, I’ve felt my emotions deeply. At first, I viewed it as a flaw and chalked it up to sensitivity. But as I’ve grown and had more interactions, something shifted in me. If I could go back to that younger version of myself, I would tell her that those emotions you feel, that care and concern you have for others, that’s completely normal. That’s what we call empathy. 

That personal story inspired my Honors capstone but bringing it to life required me to dive deeper into empathy-development. Research shows that children experience a wide range of emotions long before they have the language to understand and explain them. Having the tools to name and navigate emotions can positively impact skills like relationship-building, communication and sharing with others. According to my research, the most critical stage to develop empathy is between ages 3 to 7. The fact that, with the right tools, empathy can be learned is at the heart of my passion project.

Let Your Colors Glow

My perspective on emotions and empathy shifted because of the relationships I built with professors at Bentley, and I learned to see leadership through a more human lens. That’s the heart of my message in the book: “When you feel what they feel and show them you care, your colors will glow and spread everywhere.” 

What I’ve learned is that if you don’t speak to people’s hearts, then you’re not going to speak to their minds. And at the end of the day, it’s not what you’ve accomplished or what you’ve earned that matters most. It’s how you express kindness, care, compassion and empathy that leaves a lasting impact on people in ways you’ve never imagined.