I attend a university that is centered on eight core values: respect, excellence, diversity, compassion, hospitality, integrity, learning for life and service. While each of these values is critical independently, together they function in tandem to unify us. Yet, when I survey the world around me, I find that we although we lack in every one of those areas, we have seemed to completely abandon compassion.

Many examples flood my mind of this deficiency, however one incident in particular stands out. One Friday afternoon, I was waiting patiently in the ever-growing security line at Chicago Midway International Airport, for the umpteenth time this year (which seems to increase in length each time I pass through). I was about halfway to the front of the line, scrolling through social media, when I overheard a woman at the back, announcing to the crowd that she was running late, and asked if she could jump ahead of them. Immediately, the couple standing in front of me scoffed, and made a pact to not let her pass. Behind me, everyone had kindly stepped out of the way, and I happily followed suit. However, while she pleaded with the couple ahead of us, they not only refused her request, but berated the woman in front of the entire crowd.

Witnessing this left me aghast. It truly bothered me to experience humans with such meager regard for one another.

There are countless explanations as to why the woman was running late. Perhaps she was stuck in a traffic jam. Maybe there was a last minute emergency and she needed to be somewhere. Heck, she even could have dillydallied and caused herself to be tardy. To me, the reason is not significant. What is important is the fact that she is a human being, worthy of the same kindness and patience we should all be subject to.

In my first year of college, we were assigned a book to read, “Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life”, written by Karen Armstrong, a former nun. This is the type of book that provokes many thoughts, and prompts many questions. Admittedly, the majority of my peers could care less about this appointed book, but it spoke to me. I highly recommend this book, as it shines light on the critical aspect of a compassionate life. There were some steps that I was more comfortable with, and a few that I yearned to improve on. I began questioning myself on how to incorporate them into my life. How could I live a more compassionate life toward myself and others?

It has been two years since I raised that question, and I have come to comprehend that the answer is all but simple. I do not intend to give the impression that compassion is hard. Rather, I mean it is not simple because there is not a single answer. The complexity is identified in each of the many answers. There are various components to compassion, including communication, acceptance and love. That’s just what works for me. Compassion is unique, and each person has their own recipe.

Compassion is essential to life. Daily, we encounter a harsh world that swallows us up and spits us back out. Every person has their own struggle, and with this battle comes the notion that we must abide by survival of the fittest. In an attempt to lift ourselves up, we try to drown others. It has become a challenge for us to coexist, and that is due to our selfishness. If we wish to succeed, it is imperative we support one another. We need to be the change we wish to see in the world, and that starts inside ourselves, in our minds and hearts. I disagree with people who label the world as hopeless. I disagree because I know that humans are capable of overcoming adversity, and that fills me with hope for the future. We all have a fire burning within, and if we tend to it correctly, we can illuminate the world with compassion.