The Power of Awareness

How keeping your distance can help someone in need

“Respect yourself and others will respect you”

-Confucius

       Respect can go a long way. This is apparent in my life. One example of this was when I was in 4th grade, and now at Fenn. I came to Fenn in 4th grade as a big kid. Compared to most 8th graders, I was tiny. This difference in size and grade made walking by an 8th grader a little weird. You noticed them, and so did they, but you both kept walking. This sounds normal, but in 4th grade, it made me a bit nervous. You needed to respect their space. This feeling of “What are they thinking about me?” was an everyday reality. As time passed, this feeling faded. This year, as I was walking to Ward Hall, a small 4th grader walked passed me with the same expression I had all the way back when I was in the same grade. I recognized that familiar face, and realized that he was probably thinking the same thing: “What is he thinking about me?” At first I felt like there was nothing I could do about it. I can’t control someone’s feelings. Then, after a bit of thinking, I thought that maybe if I tried respecting their space or maybe even being friendly, that I could make them feel that much more comfortable. I feel that this is very important because if I can make a 4th grader, who is already nervous for many other reason, feel more comfortable, then I will. This idea of respecting their space (not that I was violating it before) really can go a long way. I know that if the 8th graders maybe tried what I am doing today, respecting the space, it would make me feel a lot more comfortable. Respecting someone can be the thing that they remember.