Actions Speak Louder Than Words by Paige

Actions Speak Louder Than Words by Paige - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

I walked anxiously towards Carrie’s car in the camper drop-off lane, dripping in sweat on that hot July day. I was with my church youth group at Camp Barnabas, a camp for special needs adults, where we volunteered every summer. As a senior and returning counselor, I had agreed to serve as the counselor for one of this year’s more challenging campers. Carrie was a 42-year-old, nonverbal, wheelchair-bound woman with a mental age of two. As I cautiously opened Carrie’s car door, she looked me in the eye, shook her head, aggressively slapped her legs, and yelled, “NO!” I froze in surprise. Our eight-hour training course had definitely not covered this situation.

Communicating with others has always come naturally to me. Finding the right set of words to convey a message and receiving feedback regarding its success or failure energizes me. I perform Informative Speaking for my high school speech and debate team and enjoy writing 10-minute speeches trying to convince judges of my viewpoints at weekly tournaments. As the Liberty High School Yearbook Editor-in-Chief, I lead a classroom of fellow students in daily lessons teaching them to create pages that effectively communicate our yearbook theme. As the student body president, I communicate the needs of my fellow students, advocating for the entire student body. I’m a girl who loves using her words, but none of these experiences had prepared me for a week of nonverbal communication with Carrie.

On our first day together, I learned to help Carrie perform basic daily tasks such as showering, eating, and using the restroom. Camp Barnabas is located on a picturesque property with rolling hills and pushing Carrie in her wheelchair was the most physically exhausting task I have ever undertaken. However, learning to have a conversation with Carrie was even more challenging when the only word she could verbalize was “No.” I learned the hand motions that had startled me upon meeting Carrie were her primary means of communication. When Carrie was in a good mood, joyful hand slaps were a common occurrence. When she was irritated, she would dramatically fold her arms and loudly sigh. I learned that “No” with a vigorous head shake was actually a yes.

My understanding shifted when I started observing that what Carrie lacked in verbal ability, she made up for in empathic ability. When a camper nearby was crying during a challenging activity, I was surprised to see Carrie reach over without hesitation and comfort her with a shoulder pat. At a moment when I was tearfully overcome with exhaustion, she gave me a huge, reassuring hug. In addition to her empathy, Carrie’s infectious laugh could encourage a whole room to laugh along with her. My favorite camp memories came at bedtime as Carrie had our entire cabin rolling in laughter with her high-pitched giggles, happy slaps, and nighttime hugs. I developed a profound appreciation for Carrie’s wordless, yet effective way of connecting with everyone around her.

When I used to hear the phrase “actions speak louder than words,'' I would blindly agree, but Carrie taught me the true meaning of that phrase. Carrie spoke only one word during her week at camp, but on the last day, other campers tearfully thanked her for the positive difference she had on them. Carrie left a lasting impact on me as well. I used to believe communication revolved around choosing the perfect words to deliver my message, but I now understand communication is as much about my actions as my words. Carrie taught me that a big smile and a gesture of compassion can bridge nearly any communication gap and that the words I say don’t matter nearly as much as the actions I take. Next July, I’ll be back at Camp Barnabas, volunteering in the blazing heat with a new mindset towards communicating with and caring for others. Carrie will be waiting with a huge hug.