Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
At 10 years old, I stepped into my first homeless shelter.
“Dad, I’m scared.” I whimpered as we entered the large, grey building. Grabbing my hand tighter, he said, “You have nothing to fear,” firmly reassuring me. As I began to serve bread, each warm smile and genuine “Thank you,” quickly turned my fear into happiness.
Growing up in Bellevue, an affluent suburb east of Seattle, I had never personally interacted with homeless people, so my view towards them was influenced by society’s negative portrayals. On that day, by meeting and connecting with the people at the shelter, my “Bellevue Bubble” was popped, and I began to see them in a different light.
Many students at my school still harbor many false perceptions about those living in poverty. When I talk to them about volunteering, they often ask me whether it is dangerous or whether I am afraid. Each time I say no, but due to a lack of personal experience, they are never convinced, and are still hesitant to join me. It’s not that they don’t care; in fact many students do think of poverty as an issue and donate money, clothes and canned foods. But, while all these efforts are beneficial, their mindset is missing something: genuine empathy. To them, poverty seems like a distant problem because it does not affect them or anyone they know, leading to a decreased urgency.
Recognizing this problem, I co-founded an organization called Promless, with a mission of bringing together high school students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. During the holiday season, we organized a prom-like event to tear down harmful misconceptions and bring joy to underprivileged students.
Three months, $2,500 in donations, and 50 volunteers later, the night arrived. As the guests entered the beautifully decorated gymnasium of the Seattle Union Gospel Mission’s youth drop-in center, I was excited for what the night would bring. The elegant, winter-themed evening began with stunning appetizers and passed by in a blur of smiling faces, lights, and dancing. Before dessert, I gathered all the volunteers and thanked them for their hard work throughout the night. As we carried out the giant cake, I encouraged all the volunteers to grab a slice and get to know the guests. While at first all the volunteers were clumped together, 30 minutes later, I was ecstatic to see all the volunteers and guests mixed together, laughing and getting to know each other.
Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I turned around to see a boy with an afro and skateboard. After introducing ourselves, George and I began to get to know each other, talking about everything from the Seahawks to his struggles of juggling school with multiple part time jobs. Although I had encountered many underprivileged individuals in the past, the vast majority were of an older age, so when I met George it had a profound impact. Hearing the first hand struggles someone my age was experiencing due to poverty made the issue even more pressing for me.
The power of Promless was how it brought people together. Through personal encounters, we were able to breakdown pre-existing misconceptions and also begin to see the issue of poverty in a different, more empathetic way. In the weeks following the event, I was delighted that many students approached me for guidance in how to start their own initiatives. From planning a thanksgiving meal for underprivileged families to simply handing out pizzas, the students were taking the next steps to bring happiness to and spend time with different kinds of people. Wherever I go, I hope to continue to grow my capacity for empathizing and connecting with people on deeper levels, while also encouraging others to do so as well.