Empathy can be expressed by saying "I bet your behinds are now aching from sitting all day long", while compassion comes in the form of invitations, such as inviting someone to stand up and stretch their legs for a bit. Empathy always gets me excited because of its capacity to help us connect and interact with each other. Empathy enables us to relate to another person's experience, leading us to treat them with the same kindness and respect we expect in return. It creates a sense of connection which is why it remains such an essential part of our interactions. Compassion is indeed a powerful emotion that can drive people to create positive change in the world. Compassion is the feeling of empathy and concern for others, especially those who are suffering or in need. It involves recognizing the pain or difficulties of others and wanting to alleviate their suffering. Compassion can motivate people to take action to help others, whether through volunteering, donating to charity, advocating for social justice, or simply offering a listening ear and a kind word. When people act with compassion, they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and contribute to creating a more just and equitable society. Furthermore, studies have shown that practicing compassion can have positive effects on our own well-being, including reducing stress, increasing happiness, and improving our relationships with others. So, not only is compassion a powerful force for positive change in the world, but it can also benefit us personally. We can only be compassionate when we have empathy for those around us, understanding their perspectives and respecting their feelings.
In 2014, during the summer months, it became incredibly clear why I would make such a statement today. To better comprehend this thought process from me, it is essential to review what transpired that season. Yes, camping is an excellent way to gain knowledge and have fun at the same time. When people go camping, they get to spend time outdoors and experience nature firsthand. This experience can teach them a lot about the environment, wildlife, and the ecosystems that make up the natural world. Camping can also be an educational experience in other ways. For example, people who go camping can learn important survival skills such as how to start a fire, set up a tent, and navigate through the wilderness. They can also learn about the history and culture of the area they are camping in, which can be particularly interesting if the area has a significant historical or cultural significance. In addition to being educational, camping can also be a lot of fun. People can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, fishing, and birdwatching. Camping also provides an opportunity to disconnect from technology and spend quality time with family and friends. Overall, camping is an excellent way to gain knowledge and have some much-needed fun. Whether people are new to camping or seasoned veterans, they can benefit from the experience of spending time in the great outdoors. For the summer in question, my plans switched to just luxuriating and relaxing, however, since I had not registered early enough for any summer camp activities. So I decided that for the three months of summer, I would do nothing but hang loose. My mom unfortunately said that vegging out "is not an activity" and thus I should find something rather productive to do instead. And at the time, creating my own camp seemed appealing to me, since I could not attend the regular summer camp. It filled the void and it made me excited to try something new. As the camp director and program director, I would oversee the campers (which would also be me) and ensure that everyone had an enjoyable experience.
The program offered experiences that were both unique and random, providing participants with the opportunity to have fun or add an exciting element to their lives. For 30 days, I set up my own special camp that offered all sorts of unique experiences. On one day, I chose to only eat carrots. Every single day was different and exciting! Going shoeless was my chosen activity for another day; in an effort to enjoy a different experience, I chose to walk around sans shoes. Let me tell you, on the day my family and I visited a goat farm that happened to be Barefoot Day, trudging through the muck of the farm gave me a new appreciation for shoes! Never before in my entire life have I valued them more. In August, I plan to delve into what life in a wheelchair is really like in order to gain an understanding of the reality. I asked my mom for assistance; specifically, I wanted a wheelchair so that I could go to the mall and do some shopping. All summer, she had consented to my outrageous requests, so when I asked her for a wheelchair, she simply inquired "You wanna what?" Impressively, without hesitation I received a reply of "Okay I will see if we can borrow one." Excitement bubbled up inside me after I successfully convinced my cousin to take me out for the day and spend it pushing me around at the mall. Yet, as soon as we came through those doors, something unexpected happened: I had just seemingly vanished. People abruptly started speaking in either a low or high volume around me, acting as if I could not understand them. Even salespeople would talk directly to my cousin and ignore me like I was not able to make choices by myself. Seeing people in wheelchairs as just their disability and not who they are as a person is a feeling many have wondered if those with mobility impairments experience. Going through life with the treatment I endured gave me a tremendous appreciation for how hard it is for people in similar situations. It was on that day that I vowed to never put someone else through what I had experienced. If not for the fact that I put myself in a wheelchair, I never would have known. The next summer, I had a life-changing experience when I visited the Dominican Republic on a service trip. There, faced with the struggle of everyday life, my empathy for others increased significantly. This empowering experience taught me what it is truly like to be in need and lack basic necessities.
2016 was looking to be a tedious summer until something exciting appeared on the horizon. The anticipation of something stimulating that third summer was palpable so everybody eagerly awaited what was to come. My Project Empathy started with the thought of combining a self-run camp with real-world experience of mine. The unique concept of the camp would allow kids to walk in someone else's shoes and gain a better understanding of how someone else may see and feel things differently. I contacted the parents of my sister and her friends to ask if they would want their children to participate in an awesome experiential learning camp that aims to promote empathy in younger generations. The response was highly positive and I had 15 campers, mostly around 11 years old signed up quickly. Project Empathy kicked off in a few weeks with a four day camp that lasted for four to five hours each day. The camp was fun and concentration centered on one particular experience each time. The group decided to try something different, so for one day they all donned eye patches, blocking out their sight and learning all about living with blindness. The campers were put to work all day another day, with only a meagre pay rate in return; the experience having been a workshop on earning and living off minimum wage. And yet, the impression that my work session on drought stricken areas had on kids was immense in particular. On this day, they gained an understanding and insight into what it truly means to live with limited resources and access to water.
At the start of each day, I encouraged the kids to not just predict their feelings, but also to record said predictions into their journals. At the end of each activity, they reflected on how they actually felt while doing it, then comparing it with what they had anticipated initially. Feeling hopeful, Anna embarked on her visual impairment day with her guide. Surprisingly, far from feeling helpless or alone, she trusted her companion and believed in herself to make it through the day, blindness and all. Sophia, on poverty day, felt the struggle of having to narrow down her selections to only what was necessary instead of enjoying the luxury of buying every item she desired due to her lack of funds. Mira lugged two gallons of water, thinking it might feel the same as any other day, yet she was quickly reminded that this drought day would be a challenge; it was as if her arms felt ready to rip off. These kids grew immensely, with the experience of walking in someone else's shoes being a remarkable change. And so, on the final day of camp, I asked campers to put together a PowerPoint presentation for their loved ones. This presentation summarized their time at camp and demonstrated all they had learned. A boy named Alvaro said something particularly inspiring - he believes that empathy can help provide somebody a purpose to aid others out of compassion. The insights of everyone were very thought provoking. Empathy has the power to create a tangible reason to help those in need. With this, compassion develops and shines through when looking at how an 11-year-old could explain why this entire project even exists: through empathy, we can foster the strength to reach out and offer assistance.
Last summer was an unforgettable experience. From creating new friends to making lifelong memories, Project Empathy provided moments of joy and discovery that will stay even with me for years to come. This year, I took my project Empathy to a new level by branching out to the local middle school during both fall and spring of my junior year. The Interact Club of my high school, Campo Lindo, provided experiential learning to the eighth grade Leadership Class by running programs we had created with the goals of teaching them how to implement similar activities for all sixth graders. Even with these small steps I have taken, the positive impact that empathy can have is remarkably evident. Its power to transform has a snowball effect - good deeds compounding each other in a chain reaction of ever increasing benefit. Many people can be inspired by the empathy one person has for them, fostering more empathetic individuals across society. Likewise, as they are spreading empathy themselves, these people also create a ripple effect inspiring those around them to do the same and progress culminates, when there is an evolving presence of enough compassionate and caring members in the society. When people recognize the shared humanity of their fellow community members, they can create positive change by engaging in compassionate acts. Examples of this could include volunteering at a homeless shelter or participating in a canned food drive. But of course, people’s feelings of empathy have been known to swell, leading to a greater realization of the interconnectedness between humanity across boundaries; it is something that can be seen not just within tight-knit communities but around the world. Showing their compassion and empathy as well in an act of solidarity, men joined the march alongside women during January to demonstrate their support for the universal cause of supporting women.
Divisiveness and animosity run rampant in our world, causing fear of terrorists acts as well as literal walls being erected between people. As our awareness increases, so does our consideration of others; their emotions and experiences become embedded in ours. We can all be inspired to show compassion beyond the summer camps or classrooms and into our wider communities. Compassion is an invaluable trait, something we should strive to cultivate when treating others. A greater amount of empathy can lead to increased levels of tolerance resulting in more open communication, fewer walls and even fewer Wars. Making peace starts with understanding different perspectives. It is really up to us, each and every one of us; to make this happen. As former President Obama shared: "We should learn to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and try to see the world through their eyes." Four years ago my mom instructed me to discover something productive to complete, which is why I had devised a camp program of random experiences called Project Empathy. Today I am proudly taking a purposeful step - bringing empathy workshops into schools - to help create more social awareness in the classroom. I have come such a long way in the last four years - and I have gained so much—especially increased empathy and understanding. Both of these have enabled me to develop more deeply rooted compassion for others. I still have much to learn and accomplish. I am not certain what endeavors I will embark upon through my empathy workshops, but one thing is definitely certain: I will put the knowledge gained to good use, and prove that to both you and my mother. I thank you for your empathy.
See also: https://mygodsentangels.com/