My Apparent Lack of Empathy.

empathy (em-puh-thee): The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. 

Well, according to the lovely test, I score a 34 in empathy. I'm going to say I hope I'm a bit more empathetic than that. I do often find myself in situations where I don't understand where someone is coming from, but I am also very considerate and open to others' voices. Although I may be low in empathy, I feel a 34 does not reflect me. I may be a Grinch, but in the end his heart grew so I'm good.

Empathy isn't really something to be taught. Parents can teach you manners, they can teach you about faith, they can teach you to tie your shoe or how to ride a bike. But the concept of empathy is something that comes from within. It is your own personal thoughts and feelings, not something your parents taught you. Parents can share their ideas and empathy can be shared in that way, but not given. It is something to be learned on your own.

One of my teachers at my school shows a great deal of empathy. She is constantly thinking of others and how they feel. The concern she has is very noticeable and she tries to make an effort to make everyone comfortable. She is very conscience about what she says and also very caring. She is open to listen to almost anyone who comes to her to talk. On the other hand (and since we're on the teacher subject), a clerk at my school who usually deals with the attendance, tardies, etc. is my target. To put it bluntly (there's my unempatheticness), the only way you could really get an absence or tardy excused was if someone had died. My mother had me checked out once for a scheduled doctor's appointment and she wouldn't excuse the absences. A friend of mine missed because she had the stomach virus and the lovely clerk wouldn't excuse that either. She may be my fellow Grinch, because she's much nicer this year.