Character First Essay
-
Compassion
By
Amy
DePoy
,
Shenendehowa
High
School
Do
you
remember
a
time
when
someone
made
your
day
by
opening
the
door
for
you,
or
offering
to
carry
your
groceries?
Perhap
s
someone
changed
your
life
in
a
bigger
way
such
as
the
inspiring
story
about
a
boy
who
offered
to
help
carry
someone's
books
which
prevented
him
fro
m
committing
suicide
.
These
are
all
examples
of
compassion
.
To
me,
compassion
isn't
just
a
character
trait--it's
a
mindset.
Compassion
is
a
way
of
viewing
people:
choosing
to
see
their
troubles
and
trying
to
make
their
lives
better
.
Although
this
might
seem
a
trivial
trait,
c
ompassion
is
vital
for
society
to
function
.
It
is
necessary
for
fostering
an
empathetic
population
of
people
who
understand
the
needs
and
circumstances
of
others
.
Compassion
is
essential
for
producing
citizens
with
globally
oriented
and
accepting
outlooks
on
life.
As
philosopher
Arthur
Schopenhauer
said
,
"Compassion
is
the
basis
of
morality."
I
believe
that
this
is
true;
that
compassion
is
one
of
the
building
blocks
of
the
ethics
of
individuals
and
society
as
a
whole.
Compassion
fights
stereotypes
and
prejudices,
and
it
fosters
forgiveness
in
communities
around
the
world.
Compassion
has
an
impact
not
only
on
the
societal
level,
but
also
on
a
personal
level:
it
forms
kinder
people
.
The
admittance
that
you
don't
know
what
is
going
on
in
everyone's
life
and
as
such
should
give
them
the
benefit
of
the
doubt
is
at
the
basis
of
compassion
and
the
stem
of
kind
actions.
Compassion
is
being
part
of
everyone's
support
network.
Not
necessarily
a
big
part;
a
compassionate
person
can
make
someone's
day
by
complimenting
them
or
offering
them
a
smile.
Leo
Buscaglia
once
said,
"
Too
often
we
underestimate
the
power
of
a
touch,
a
smile,
a
kind
word,
a
listening
ear
,
an
honest
compliment,
or
the
smallest
act
of
caring,
all
of
which
have
the
potential
to
turn
a
life
around."
A
compassionate
life
is
one
in
which
you
live
like
that
every
day;
when
you
look
at
every
person
as
someone
who
needs
those
little
actions.
Another
reason
why
compassion
helps
people
lead
fulfilling
lives
is
because
compassion
in
its
basic
components
is
simply
caring
deeply
about
something
or
someone
.
Caring
deeply
about
something
gives
your
life
purpose
and
use
.
A
life
full
of
love
and
deep
relationships
with
people
and
activities
you
care
a
lot
about
is
more
fulfilling
than
one
in
which
you
breeze
by
life
without
caring
deeply
about
anything
.
That
empathy
and
thoughtfulness
that
compassion
provides
is
rewarding
and
helps
you
think
about
and
appreciate
every
aspect
of
your
life
more
deeply.
Compassion
also
helps
a
person
fulfill
a
life
that
matters
because
it
gives
perspective
to
her
own
life
and
troubles.
It
makes
you
less
self-absorbed
and
more
focused
on
society
and
your
role
in
it.
Compassion
can
make
you
happier
and
can
help
you
leave
a
positive
mark
on
the
world.
Everyone
deserves
compassion
because
every
life
matters.
And
that
is
why
compassion
is
so
important-because
my
life
matters
just
as
much
as
everyone
else's.
And
thus
compassionate
people
can
stop
thinking
of
their
lives
as
greater
or
more
important
than
others
and
that
fosters
acceptance
and
forgiveness
which
adds
up
to
a
happier
and
more
fulfilled
person.
To
me,
compassion
is
one
of
the
most
important
character
traits
to
possess
.
It
leads
to
kindness,
peace
,
and
forgiveness;
all
qualities
I
strive
toward.
However,
among
the
hustle
and
bustle
of
modem
life
I
fear
that
compassion
gets
cut
in
order
to
save
time
or
energy
.
So I
urge
you
to
make
an
effort
to
incorporate
compassion
into
your
dail
y
routine
or
mindset,
and
to
try
to
smile
at
someone
you
see
is
down.
As
a
community
and
as
individuals,
we
need
to
make
an
effort
to
encourage
compassion
and
promote
a
coalition
of
kindness
and
consideration.
Amy
DePoy
is
the
daughter
of
David
and
Linda
DePoy.
She
resides
at
16
Christinamarie
Drive
in
Clifton
Park.
Amy
is
a
well-rounded
student
who
excels
academically
and
is
involved
in
many
extra-curricular
activities.
Amy
is
the
recipient
of
numerous Green and
White
Awards
at
Shenendehowa
High
School,
indicating
her
academic
excellence
and
involvement
in
the
school
community.
She
is
a member
of
the
National
Latin
Honor
Society,
and
is
currently
co-president
of
the
Latin
Club.
Amy
founded,
and
is
also
the
current
president
of,
the
Model
United
Nations
Club.
She
has
been
a member
of
the
Cross
Council,
and
the
Speech
and
Debate
club,
since
grade
nine.
