Empowerly

Student profile

Polo, Polo, Armani, Michael Kors, Oakley, Armani, Oakley. It sounds like a rich kid doing wardrobe inventory, but those are the last seven pairs of glasses I have worn. Diagnosed with astigmatism and nearsightedness as a four year old, I began to lose the natural gift of vision early in my life. Having to readjust the allotment off my senses, I tried to compensate for this natural detriment; unknowingly, I was laying the foundation for my discovery of empathy at the same time. Empathy is the pair of glasses I wear for my mind’s eye; it is the one brand that has won my loyalty.

Empathy comes in handy when you least expect it -- in a late night drive, a casual conversation about college, and especially when inspiring improvement in others. While rare in occurrence, the latter situation is still possible and Albert reminded me of that. 

Albert was one of the fifty students randomly selected to be on the Monarch Madness team led by each grade’s Student Government group. As junior class president, I believed my team could get first place, but I didn’t believe in Albert. He looked out of place during practice while a team full of athletes, extroverts and overachievers surrounding him. As unfair as it sounds, I didn’t expect much of him but I did my best as a leader to show him the respect and attention he deserved. So, after an especially hard practice, I thanked him for his hard work as he left, and he responded, “Thank you for giving me a chance.” All of a sudden, my world started reeling.

I knew exactly why I expected so little of Albert; with my glasses of empathy I could see that he was exactly like me. Picked last every pickup basketball game, never trusted with a leadership role, and seen as the stereotypical Indian child my entire childhood, I spent years chasing a chance to rise above the image people had of me. A plethora of bullies, nay-sayers and disingenuous friends pushed me to realize that only my own opinion of myself mattered. Once I grew comfortable in my own shoes, I was able to use empathy to enable other people to find that same self-acceptance, a superpower in its own right.

With his optimistic exclamation, Albert reminded me of that ability, and how lucky I was to have it. So, from the beginning of the next practice to the end of Monarch Madness, I made a special effort to help him a level of self fulfillment and happiness so that when he struck that final pose in our dance, his smile radiated throughout the auditorium. 

To me, empathy is an empowering and enriching experience; it allows you to feel what you can’t touch, see people for what light doesn’t reflect, and grow others while growing yourself. Albert reminded me of its importance when being a leader, and now as a Student Government representative, he’s been given a chance to use it as well. Meanwhile, I strive to continue my empathetic growth in every aspect of my life, so that one day the only glasses I’ll need are the ones perched on my nose. 

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