Being nice versus being kind

This panel interview question tests whether you can draw a clear distinction between two similar ideas and support it with an example from your own life. Define each term in your own words, and make the contrast sharp. One way in is to compare how a response feels in the moment with whether it actually helps the person. Give a concrete example where you chose between the two, such as a time when helping someone meant honesty, a hard conversation or a boundary. Explain why the distinction matters when you care for people, and close with how you try to practice it.