David Thomas Dr.Lovorn 3rd Year Writing 3/23/23 The Importance of Empathy and Understanding in Service: A Reflection on Y-Literacy During my time as a volunteer, I worked closely with a young African-American boy called Korbin. Because of our time together, I considered the ideas in Mike Rose's Lives on the Boundary and Robert Coles' The Call to Service. In writing this piece, I aim to share my thoughts and feelings regarding my time with Korbin from a compassionate and understanding place. Reflecting on my volunteer experience, I will show how these concepts might be used to build genuine connections in the service world. The Call to Service, written by Robert Coles, discusses the significance of compassion in the helping professions. Coles …show more content…
While he was having problems with his reading assignment, I was there to help him. I did not simply tell him to do it; I ensured he had everything he needed to focus on his reading without distraction. As I placed myself in his shoes, I was better equipped to meet his unique requirements with the assistance designed just for him. Coles argues that we may better understand the people we are trying to aid if we put ourselves in their shoes (Coles 63). Putting myself in Korbin's position helped me relate to and motivate him to succeed in school. Mike Rose's Living on the Boundary offers a comprehensive look at the many factors that might hinder a person's success in school and life. According to Rose, whether or not a person succeeds academically is heavily influenced by their family's socioeconomic status (Rose 73). It became clear as I helped Korbin that these obstacles might hurt a student's academic …show more content…
Since I cared for Korbin and recognized the struggles he experienced, I was better equipped to help him. The connection between empathy and comprehension is discussed similarly by Coles and Rose. Coles argues in The Call to Service that genuine empathy is essential to form genuine relationships with the people we are meant to help (Coles 57). For my work with Korbin, I needed to be able to empathize with and feel his pain. As we had many of the same interests, he felt comfortable confiding in me, and I was able to help him advance in his studies. Living on the Boundary is Rose's exploration of the importance of self-awareness in navigating obstacles and meeting wants (Rose 76). Spending time getting to know Korbin and what he was looking for allowed me to provide him with a setting where he could