By expressing empathy to your loved ones, you are inviting them into your inner world. In a story spun by Swati Rai, Delhi-based communication and English language skills trainer, associated with The Empathy Project — a module for schools to embed the emotion into curriculum — draws kids to understand how sympathy and empathy are worlds apart...
Tina: Have you seen the new girl who has joined the school?
Rohan: The one who was raising her hand at every question of the teacher? Ha!
Tina: Yes, that one, trying too hard to be Seema ma’am’s favourite!
Rohan: Oh! Look! Here she comes!
Tina: Oh no! Please let’s just look away. And don’t you dare talk to her.
Roma: (Approaching them) Hello! Which way is the staff room? Oh, by the way, I am Roma! We are in the same class. And…
Tina: (Cutting her short) The staff room is straight down the corridor.
(Tina and Rohan move away, leaving Roma feeling sad. Just then Seema Ma’am notices it.)
Seema ma’am (SM): Hello Roma! Are you alright?
Roma: (Quickly wiping tears) Yes ma’am! Of course. I was just thanking Tina for showing me the way to the staff room. Ok ma’am, I have to rush!
SM: Oh! okay sure, Roma.
(Not convinced with Roma’s answer, Seema ma’am asks Tina and Rohan. Upon getting to know from Rohan of Tina’s behaviour, she decides to take up a new topic in class, the next day.)
SM: Okay, children, how many of you have been studying in the school since class I?
(Only two children raise their hands.)
Sm: So, who all came last year?
(Many children raise their hands.)
Sm: Tina, you too. Great! So, tell me how did you feel on your first day?
Tina: (Happy that ma’am had selected her) Ma’am, I was a little sacred and nervous.
Sm: Okay. And do you remember how you became friends with Rohan and Reena? Now you three are always found together? Right?
Tina: Ma’am they came up to me, smiled and helped me with notes and Reena also gave me a toffee.
Sm: Oh wow! That’s sweet. Do you remember how you felt then?
Tina: Ma’am that made me feel so relaxed and welcomed! Phew!
Sm: Great! I can understand what you may have felt! Do you know what that feeling is when we feel the same as others and respond to it well?
The class: No ma’am!
Sm: Well children, it is called Empathy. The quality to imagine how another person is feeling and so understand his/her mood and put ourselves, in his/her position and respond suitably.
Tina: So ma’am, is it something like as how I felt when I was new, Roma may also be feeling as new student?
Sm: Yes. Very good example Tina.
Tina: So we should welcome her and make her feel comfortable.
Sm: Yes Tina. And am sure you have done that.
Tina: Hmm... yes ma’am.
Roma: Yes ma’am, they have.
Tina: (Shaking hands with Roma) Welcome to Junior High, Roma!
Sm: So children, now we know do unto others as we wish to be done unto you. And that’s Empathy!
(The bell rings and the class is over.)
Prompts
1 Share a dialogue between two students that brings out the meaning of the concept: empathy.
2 What would be an empathetic response if you see someone in your class being excluded from activities regularly by the same group of students?
Send you response to toinie175@gmail.com and if you win, you will get an e-certificate and a chance to get published