In this day and age, when everyone seems to have an opinion, being self-aware feels like gold.

With social media, it’s incredibly easy to share whatever is on our minds. But if we’re not careful, our words can come back to bite us—especially when we fail to recognize the role we carry in society. Our words hold power. When used carelessly, they can wound deeply.

We’ve seen it happen so many times: public officials or influencers stumbling over their own posts, facing backlash because of a few poorly chosen sentences. If words shared on social media alone can create that much impact, imagine how much more powerful they are in real life.

Saying the wrong thing face-to-face can hurt someone far more deeply than we realize. That is why being aware of who we are—and who is listening to us—is absolutely crucial. This applies to every social role we carry.

In my professional field, there’s one piece of advice that keeps echoing in my head: every word we say matters to our students.

That reminder hits me hard. As educators, we interact with students all the time. Like it or not, our words carry weight simply because we are heard. When we’re not mindful of our language and tone, our intentions can easily be misinterpreted—or worse, become hurtful.

It’s undeniable that students today are more free-spirited and outspoken than ever. But that doesn’t mean we should stoop to their level.

There are certain words that simply don’t belong on a campus—a place meant to nurture values and integrity. Yet sadly, I have heard a colleague use those very words when speaking to students. And honestly, my heart goes out to those students 💔.