The Power of Empathy by Jade

The Power of Empathy by Jade - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

When I think of changing the world, I often feel intimidated by the daunting task of influencing billions of people. However, much of the change a person makes in her lifetime consists of small, sometimes forgotten, actions that add up to the individual she becomes.
Instead of impacting the whole world, I find it best to focus on changing just one person's world. I remember when I overheard a student crying on the phone after school. She had missed her bus that would take her to her job. Her mother was working, and her little sister was ordering her an Uber. Compelled by a voice inside me, I offered the girl a ride to her job. Now, what I did was nothing extraordinary; I was simply being courteous and a decent human being. But it was the immense gratitude on the girl’s face that I always remember--the realization that someone else heard her. I have never talked to that girl since then, but I hope she was reminded that day that she is worth caring for.
I also volunteer in my church's kid ministry every Sunday, watching babies from the ages of six months to two years. While the children are too young to remember me, their parents remember the kindness and concern I show. They can enjoy the church service while knowing that their children are safe. A mother new to the church brought her one-year-old daughter. The poor girl cried constantly, but I, along with the other volunteers, continued to try new methods to distract or calm her. The mother informed us that we were the first church she had been to that had patience with her daughter's crying and had not given up on her.
So, changing the world is a lot more accessible than people think. It is through small actions of empathy and love that make people feel seen.