The bustling N train ride through Manhattan took an unexpected turn when I locked eyes with a homeless man in a corner, sparking a moment of profound realization. This encounter shattered the walls I had unknowingly built around myself.

Growing up in a neighborhood teeming with hardworking mid to lower-class folks trying to make a living, I witnessed the struggles firsthand. I helped seafood sellers prep shrimps, chatted with vegetable and tofu vendors while they were waiting for the next “don’t-know-when-would-come” buyer, and played with kids from families living in dimly lit, ammonia-smelled rooms without AC. We had to pitch in and donate rice to support those who were poor and sick. These childhood experiences should have ingrained
empathy in me, but somewhere along the way now that I’m in a different country, I put fences between myself and the unfortunate.

This afternoon, as I boarded the N train, my eyes fell upon a homeless man in a corner amidst the bustling crowd. I found a seat opposite him, right next to the doors. Our eyes met. Summoning courage, I nodded and offered a warm smile. Before this, whenever I came across homeless individuals on the NY subway, I found myself doing just what everyone else did – trying my best to ignore them. As I averted my gaze, I’d come up with excuses in my head, convincing myself that it was somehow the right thing to do. This time I chose to acknowledge his presence, to recognize his humanity. As the N train set off, crossing the iconic Manhattan bridge, I couldn’t help but marvel at the breathtaking view of Downtown Manhattan. The man also rose from his seat and made his way to the doors, joining me to admire the city’s skyline. Unconsciously, I said, “Beautiful, isn’t it?” and looked at him. He looked back at me, clearly taken aback by my approach. For the next 15 minutes, he opened up, sharing snippets of his life, his
struggles, and his dreams. I was humbled by the resilience and dignity he carried despite the circumstances. He thanked me for treating him like a fellow human being instead of making him felt he didn’t exist.

I ventured beyond the familiar to learn something new that has always been inside me all along. Kindness knows no boundaries and genuine human connections can transcend social and economic differences. It means acknowledging the humanity in each person I encountered, regardless of their circumstances.

In his speech for Syracuse 2013 graduates, George Saunders said, “Some of this ‘becoming kinder’ happens naturally, with age. It might be a simple matter of attrition: as we get older, we come to see how useless it is to be selfish – how illogically, really […] your life is going to be a gradual process of becoming kinder and more loving: Hurry up. Speed it along. Start right now.” I interpreted it as being kind and compassionate as part of being mature. Maturity is about the willingness to learn, grow, and step beyond the confines of what we know. It’s about acknowledging our biases and preconceptions and actively challenging them. It’s about choosing empathy over apathy, compassion over indifference. And I think I’m a bit more mature today.

Tác giả: Ngô Thùy Dương (Ellen Ngo)

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Cuộc thi Hành Trình Nước Mỹ 11 với chủ để “Trưởng thành là khi…” thuộc chuỗi sự kiện Vòng Tay Nước Mỹ 11.

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