Vivek’s Common App Essay

By Vivek P.

May 27, 2022

The searing heat brings sweat to my face as the opening second position A-minor chord shatters the piercing silence. I close my eyes, and the melody flows effortlessly. After I arpeggiate the last chord, I am brought back to reality. This is no Carnegie Hall; this is one of my many Saturday mornings on the fourth floor of Webster House Assisted Living Center. Among scattered applause, a few seniors looked at me with vacant stares from their wheelchairs, two faced the other direction, and one snored in the corner as her I.V. infusion pump beeped incessantly. They seemed disconnected from the music and one another, as if they lived in another world, one I could not reach. Despite this distant feeling, I was content with the notion that my Saturdays at Webster House had perhaps made a difference.

I assumed engaging with local seniors would come naturally because of my time at the Assisted Living Center. I began working with community leaders to coordinate free lunches for the fifty-five seniors in my neighborhood, Barron Park. One senior sat alone at the front table. After making brief conversation, Peter shared how, at my age, his mother smuggled him and his three siblings out of Nazi Germany. The gravity of Peter’s story left me struggling for words, and all I could muster was a simple “I’m sorry.” My sheltered life seemed incomparable to Peter’s suffering and courage. Although deeply touched, I left feeling small and insignificant.

Soon after, I received an email from Paula, a senior who, due to her severe osteoarthritis, needed help moving packages. Upon arriving at her house, I collected several boxes and opened the unlocked door. I was greeted by a musty shag carpet and shelves filled with trinkets as the Jeopardy theme song blared throughout the house. I found Paula reclined in her chair, eyes glued to the screen. After calling out to her three times, she paused the television and smiled. We awkwardly exchanged introductions as she handed me a list of tasks to complete. As I left, Paula said, “I’ll see you tomorrow!” Though unsure how to relate to Paula and fill the gaps in conversation, I returned the next day, and the next, and almost every day since.

One hot summer day, I made my usual quick stop at Paula’s, bringing her packages inside. Minutes after returning home, I received an email, “PLEASE COME TO MY HOUSE AGAIN… I NEED YOUR HELP!” I immediately rushed back to her house and found her in tears, sweating profusely. She panicked because her air-conditioner broke days ago amidst the ongoing heatwave. I quickly brought Paula a fan to help her get through the day. I was troubled by how blind I was to her reality. Somehow, I failed to recognize her suffering and wondered whether I was truly helping Paula these past few months. 

I began to realize that true service lies beyond deeds. Service is about connecting with others and seeing the value in who they are. Since then, I have cultivated a stronger bond with Paula by learning more about her life; her family, Doris Day, peach Diet Snapple, and Mahjong bring her joy. In turn, I have shared a lot about my life, and she was one of my biggest supporters when I got my driver’s license. My loss of words when talking to Peter inspired me to find them with Paula.

Relating to seniors has not always been easy, and I still have much to learn. Looking back, I would not have closed my eyes at Webster House. I missed what was right in front of me. In those moments, I did not need to be anywhere else but with them. I continue to use these experiences, as they have given me the tools to deepen connections with others. I now know that actively listening and being truly present fosters genuine connection.