What exactly is respect?

The theme of this month is showing respect for others. We have been taught to respect different people, but what exactly is respect? It is the politeness, honour, and care shown towards someone or something that is considered important. To begin with, let me share a story with you. There once was a little boy who was very athletic and aggressive. One day, he participated in a running competition held in his village. In the first round, he competed with two other boys and won. Then he competed with two young men and got the champion again. The crowd kept cheering and waving towards the boy. Feeling on top of the world, he started to ask other people to challenge him.

An old man stepped forward, together with a frail old lady and a blind man. The little boy was shocked and asked, “Is this even a competition?” The boy kept running and first crossed the finishing line to no one’s surprise. However, the crowd was in silence. “Why is there nobody cheering for me?” he yelled. He then realised the other contestants were still standing at the starting line. The old man asked, “race again but can we finish together this time?” At this round, they held hands and walked slowly towards the finishing line. Although none of them broke the record, the crowd cheered louder than any time before. The old man explained to the boy, “you have won the biggest ever, which is people’s respect.”

We all have been that boy who had put ourselves superior to others. However, showing respect for others extends beyond words and it requires us to treat each person with fairness and kindness. Have you ever judged people when you see them at first sight? Did you make hurtful comments on them? Respect is about recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of their background, beliefs, or circumstances. Everybody is unique and we should avoid making assumptions or imposing our own views onto others. Instead, empathy is putting ourselves in other’s shoes. Try to remove any stereotype before being subjective.

Another way of showing respect for others is to listen. By listening, we recognize and value the contributions of others, which means we appreciate their effort. At school, perhaps it is not that difficult for us to pay attention in lessons, or listen quietly during a talk. Living in a diversified society, we should also accept different viewpoints between individuals. As house executives, it is even more important to demonstrate respect. We have to take members’ opinions into full consideration as well as be open minded to listen to any ideas. Our aim is to cultivate a harmonious environment where everyone’s voice is valued. This shows the respect towards our house members and the sense of belonging always comes from feeling included.

Green House
26 September 2023