I have always considered myself to be a very sensitive person. This quality of mine is one that I treasure, because it has made me a much more considerate and empathetic individual. From my perspective, compassion means being a support system for other individuals, who you go out of your way to provide comfort and reassurance to. In today’s society, which promotes superficiality and social status, having compassion is more crucial than ever because it encourages healthy, fulfilling relationships, and can assist the wellbeing of an individual.
Being a teenager, I realize that the relationships I hold (and the ones that I am soon to make in university), carry the experiences that shape the person I am becoming! This contributes to the reason why I look for compassion in the people I meet, because if they do not share my value of emotional sensitivity, then I believe we are meant to take our own separate journeys. Since social media is also so prevalent in the lives of people in my age group, I have witnessed the diminishing of consideration for other human beings. It is so easy to only see something through a screen and believe that the words you say and the actions you take, from the comfort of your home, do not have consequences. Situations like this have, unfortunately, led to a mental health crisis in my generation.
Depression and anxiety are conditions I see most prevalent in peers of mine, and it has led me to want to advocate for the importance of addressing one’s mental health. I feel that a contributing factor to this situation is the fact that people are becoming evermore disconnected from each other, due to social media and technology. Some people don’t hesitate to use the armor of an online persona to cause pain in the lives of others. This leads to a cycle of hurt people, hurting other people. From this observation, I have learned to truly be in the moment with my peers whenever we are interacting face-to-face.
How people exhibit themselves does not always communicate what they feel on the inside. This is why I do my best to treat others in a way that will leave them feeling optimistic, or at least feeling considered. My desire to leave a positive impact in the lives of others has followed me into my higher education, leading me to pursue a path where I can become a counselor, either dealing with mental health or in an educational setting. I often find myself providing guidance to my friends, which they are always grateful for. I want to be a helping hand to the people around me whenever it is possible, and hope to make a living doing something that truly fulfills me: Using my compassion to aid the lives of any individual possible!
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