Building Empathy: How Volunteering and Mentoring has Shaped my Journey
My journey as a volunteer and peer mentor since age eight has shaped my empathetic nature and influenced my life choices. The profound impact of volunteer work and mentoring on building empathy cannot be overstated, particularly in the context of middle and high schools. From my early experiences, it became evident that engaging in volunteer activities and serving as a mentor fosters a deep sense of understanding and compassion. By actively participating in such programs, I developed a heightened awareness of the struggles others face and learned to appreciate diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Empathy is a crucial skill that goes beyond the elementary school years. As students transition to middle and high school, the challenges they face become more complex, and the need for empathy becomes even more vital. Continued involvement in mentoring programs at these levels can significantly contribute to developing empathetic attitudes among students. In middle and high schools, whe...