By Shaunavahn Reid
Our behavior is often shaped by our values. Tell us about a value you hold.
“If I am ever caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, just being alive and not bothering anyone, I hope I am greeted with the same kind of mercy.”
This is an excerpt from Rudy Francisco’s poem “Mercy”, which I believe demonstrates the value of empathy through the interaction of a man and a spider. The spider wanders into the man’s house and upon seeing the spider, the man’s spouse tells him to dispose of it. But, instead of killing the spider he finds the most harmless object he could find, picks up the spider, and gently releases him into the wild. This empathy the man showed towards the spider is the same empathy I pride myself in showing towards every living thing I encounter.
Right now, empathy is needed in this world. Each day, when I open any social media app on my phone, the same words and phrases begin to flash before my eyes and ring inside my ear: war, abuse, freedom, rights, mental health, division, and death. Each time these words are spoken, they travel searching for an ear to hear and offer to help. However, they continue to reappear over and over again. As I walk from my bus stop home, I pass an assortment of individuals, who each carry different worries and struggles within their lives. And in instances where one of these individuals expresses these struggles through rage or sadness, the majority turns a blind eye.
This is why I value empathy so much and try my hardest to stray away from the majority. Just understanding and sharing the feelings of another individual won’t provide food on their table or erase a traumatic experience that happened to them, however, it will show that you see them, not from just a superficial level, but from a deep and intricate one as well. As someone who experienced things that were unfortunate and was fortunate enough to have a support system that showed me the empathy and compassion I needed, I told myself that I would always display the same empathy towards any individual I interact with. The man in the poem chose to diverge from the majority and showed the spider mercy through empathy, by releasing him back into the wild; this idea of mercy through empathy is something we should all strive for.
Shaunavahn Reid is a senior at Weaver High School. As a QuestBridge Finalist and Hartford Promise Scholar he has received full ride to Columbia University!
Congratulations Shaunavahn!!! We at Northend Agent’s and the Community of Hartford are immensely proud of you. May your college journey be filled with boundless opportunities and resources.
