The best advice I've ever received by paige

The best advice I've ever received by paige - October 2013 Scholarship Essay

“There is a difference between pity and compassion.” Kimby Heil preached this advice to me while on a service trip. She emphasized that our culture has become so caught up in saying “I feel badly for that homeless man,” as opposed to helping better his life. Feeling sorry for someone is acceptable, however; having pity for him or her and not making an effort to help his or her situation is wrong.
Many people view compassion as a universal trait. However, Kimby has proven to me that compassion is very rare and hard to find in people. We, who are fortunate, have a home, clothes, food, and an education, while our neighbor may be in need of a simple meal. Instead of offering money for a meal; pity, buy it and then sit and listen to this person’s story; compassion. Very often, the poor are labeled as lazy when in reality; it is nearly impossible to obtain a home without a job and a job without an education. It can be difficult for those well-off to comprehend that people are often born into circumstances where they may be trapped.
I have learned to have compassion for others rather than pity and I strive to make changes in my society rather than turn a blind eye. Kimby Heil is by no means a famous writer or philosopher, but in my opinion, she has preached the most universal and valuable advice I could receive.