“Compassion in its broadest sense is not about staying away from those in need; it is the sharing of the pain and suffering of an unmet need, of an unhealed wound, of an unrepaired injustice. (Farley, 65) Compassion is an emotion felt by all humans. Humans are social creatures; we long for the affection and love of others. The ability to share experiences and feelings and to be able to empathize with others is an ability that could be considered typically human. From young children to the elderly, we all want to share our life stories with others and hear a response in return. Receiving attention and knowing that someone is listening is a comforting and influential response that can greatly affect a person's well-being. Compassion, in a sense, is love, the love that all humans crave and need to maintain a healthy state of mind and mental being. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay I have always had an aversion to nursing homes or nursing homes. Ever since I was little, I have avoided any interaction with older people at all costs. They scared me and made me feel uncomfortable. I never had a particular reason to avoid nursing homes other than the uncomfortable feeling they made me feel. However, after an internship in a retirement home, I was able to identify the reason why I didn't like retirement homes: I was uncomfortable with the idea of ​​empathizing with people. residents. The process of residents making me feel what they felt when they experienced certain emotions, including grief or sorrow, scared me. Because Academic Service Learning was intended to help the elderly and less fortunate, I dreaded the moment I would set foot in a nursing home again. However, my experience at the International Missions Association is helping me change my perspective on compassion. At the International Mission Association, I was assigned to help an elderly man living in a nearby nursing home. I had to help him with his daily activities and spend time with him, providing him with companionship. The old man was a quiet but pleasant person. What really stood out to me was his room. His room was quite simple; the walls were empty, the bedside table had only an empty cup and several napkins, and the room remained dark. I knew all along that this man did not or could not contact his family. As I spent time with him and helped him with his activities, he began to open up about his family situation. His wife had died several years before and his sons had left him in the nursing home, not keeping in touch since the moment they dropped him off. My heart hurt after hearing this story and I wanted to run away so bad. But the sad expression on his face made me stay. I held his hand and we walked together in silence. After I left, I felt like a heavy burden was lifted off my shoulders. Although I knew I couldn't fully provide the emotional support this man needed, I hoped I could bear some of his pain. Compassion, I have learned, is not always about saying the right words. I always felt that to empathize with another person, I had to say the perfect words to someone who is hurting or struggling with something difficult in their life..