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WZM Award presented to Melony Dominguez - Garfield High School, East LA, CA, May 5, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was a little girl, I remember going with my dad to pick up my mom from work in Downtown Los Angeles. We would pass by areas that were filled with homeless people and I never quite understood why so many people were living without homes. I would always hear that it was due to substance abuse but deep down I knew that there might be other factors that contributed to the situation they were currently living in. We would take the same route to my mom’s job and I would always see the same people and even new ones. This did not only make me feel grateful for the roof I had over my head and the hard work my parents put in to put food on the table, but gave me the motivation to want to make a difference in the world through the compassion I know I could provide to others. My family was not fortunate enough to be able to offer money to these individuals but I remember the urge I had to first offer my food to one of them. After that, compassion had a new meaning to me that I learned and it meant not only treating yourself with kindness but showing sympathy and going the extra mile for those who might be suffering more. This suffering does not only have to be financially but it could be emotionally or mentally because one act of kindness can make a difference in someone’s day no matter what they may be going through. Throughout my life, my mom always emphasized that if I showed compassion to others, then when I really needed it, someone would show the same to me. I learned this in April of 2022 when I went through a very traumatic time in my life and fell inside a manhole at school. I was really scared and the horror that overwhelmed me at that moment after looking down and not seeing an end in sight really traumatized me. However, strangers that I did not even know came and pulled off the cover that was stuck on my leg and helped me get out. The compassion and kindness that they had toward me made me thankful for these people. Also, struggling with my mental health was hard for me but I had the biggest support system and they were there for me in order to help relieve the pain and emotions that I was enduring from day to day. I believe that the compassion people carry with them is needed in our society especially today because without it, many people would endure violence and hostility in the community that they live in and it would just make the world a place filled with hatred. One’s compassion can go a long way and can make many people free from suffering and distress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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