2 minute read
Empathy
BY NOAH HERNANDEZ
From January 13th to the 17th, Loma Linda Academy held its 2020 Winter Week of Prayer. Students heard powerful testimonies from their classmates, participated in games designed to be engaging, sang praise songs, and listened to sermons from Pastor Jeffery Harper. The theme of the week was empathy, specifically empathy in teenagers.
to. This is where effort from the person wanting to extend empathy comes into play.
Actively trying to reach out to your peers on an emotional level can help develop a sense of empathy for the other person. Harper says, “I think the simplest way to be more empathetic is to...go look at a baby! Just kidding. A great and simple way to be more empathetic
Image shown: Pastor Jeffrey Harper By: Noah Hernandez
According to Frontiers for Young Minds, teens are able to empathize better with people whom they can relate to. “Teenagers do feel empathy toward someone from their own background. But, they feel less empathy toward someone who does not belong to their background group.” This implies that teenagers have the ability to feel empathy for anyone, but it can be harder when you cannot relate to people.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines empathy as, “The ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation.” With that in mind, one would be able to understand why it is hard for teens to be empathetic with people they do not relate is to make a goal for yourself of asking one person at school, ‘How is your heart?’ I know that is kind of a weird question. [...] But the basic point is to find one person and really listen to what they are experiencing and facing.”
While adolescents may experience a lack of empathy in certain instances, making an effort to become more empathetic is what makes a difference. According to Verywell Mind, when one is with people and they are talking, active listening can help develop empathy. Characteristics of active listening include: nonverbal feedback (eye contact, nodding), asking questions, allowing the other person to speak, etc. Verywell Mind says, “It allows you to understand the point of view of another person and respond with empathy.”
When people become more empathetic, the bonds within a community become stronger. From there, communities can grow, and become a safe place for all people. Find one person and really listen to what they are experiencing and facing.” -Jeffrey Harper
