We had the last of our Extraordinary Person presentations today, and it was definitely emotional for many of us. A few classmates teared up while presenting, and that made my eyes water too. I felt like I learned about my classmates even more throughout this process. It was one thing to see the photos of our smiling EPs, but it was another to hear about our EP's values, losses, and strength. Behind every smile is a story that is so unique and complex. All of us go through life everyday alongside thousands of strangers, each with a different story. If we had the chance to get to know everyone we walk past, we would learn about the reasons behind their actions and feelings. We would learn to be more compassionate and understanding. We would treat our family and friends with even more patience and kindness.
However, some of us tend to be in our own bubble, and are only aware of our own struggles. That causes us to see people and situations from just one perspective. If we take the time to truly get to know the community members we live with, we’d have a better idea of how to make life a little easier for everyone. I’m glad that Life Course Scholars is helping me realize this point even more, especially since I am a Public Health major hoping to work with underserved populations. If we don’t understand the people we work with, how can we help them?
However, some of us tend to be in our own bubble, and are only aware of our own struggles. That causes us to see people and situations from just one perspective. If we take the time to truly get to know the community members we live with, we’d have a better idea of how to make life a little easier for everyone. I’m glad that Life Course Scholars is helping me realize this point even more, especially since I am a Public Health major hoping to work with underserved populations. If we don’t understand the people we work with, how can we help them?