Childhood Interests
Many of us had a certain item or identity we were synonymous with as a child. Some kids always had their favorite blanket or stuffed animal by their side, while others were always in the costumes of their favorite Disney princess. As a child, I was known for my love of elephants.
Elephants have been my favorite animal for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I kept a copy of the book “Ella the Elegant Elephant” displayed in my room for all that I had been gifted when I was young. While I was only given the book because my name is “Ella”, this present initiated a lifelong admiration of elephants.
At first, I was captivated by their size and beauty, and as I got older, my attention shifted to their emotional intelligence. My elephant posters and children’s books graduated into a love of documentaries, mesmerized by the knowledge that elephants experience joy, grief, and empathy, just like humans.
Elephants: The Gentle Giant
My love for elephants has not diminished with age, and I think that can most be attributed to the animal’s extreme emotional intelligence. They are known for being very empathetic creatures, even mourning their loved one’s deaths. National Geographic writes that “in Kenya, researchers have watched mother elephants and other adult females help baby elephants climb up muddy banks and out of holes, find a safe path into a swamp, or break through electrified fences.”
Additionally, elephants have a clear respect for the elders in their herds, with the matriarch as the leader. Their display of empathy is very similar to that of humans.
Witnessing their behavior, even through books and screens, has shaped my view of the world. What started as admiration for their size and beauty shifted to appreciation of the values that they represented. Elephants are not just intelligent animals; they are deeply connected in their communities. They pay attention to each other’s needs and show that value things like community and empathy.
Seeking Community
In later years, I began to long for a community in my life similar to the ones that elephants have. I began attending a Jewish summer camp, Camp Newman, every summer and found the sense of community there that I had been searching for. I went to this summer camp for 9 years, and it has undoubtedly shaped who I am.
At camp, I was surrounded by people who relied on one another and desired community in the same way I did. I realized that the camp wasn’t just meaningful because of the fun activities, but because of the sense of belonging. Everyone felt like a crucial piece of the community.
This past summer, I worked as a counselor at that same summer camp and everything felt very full circle. I felt like I was able to make an impact on my campers in the same way my previous counselors had on me. I loved being able to teach my camper how to play guitar, a skill my own counselor taught me when I was 15.
Later on, I received a letter from that camper saying she wanted to keep coming back to camp and missed every day she was away. Nothing had ever felt so meaningful to me as carrying on traditions and creating a community.
I realized that this connection to elephants had carried on into my life further than just childhood. Their sense of community shaped how I went about finding and creating community as I got older.
From Interest To Action: Community Service
As I grew older, I translated the empathy and connection I had learned from animals into community service. I felt myself gravitate more towards opportunities that offered human connection. This led me to get involved in opportunities in my communities where I could deepen my understanding of what this meant.
In my sophomore year, I began working at Water’s Edge, my local assisted living home. I had volunteered there in elementary school, and when I started looking for a job, it seemed like work experience I would be interested in. While serving dinner, I got to know many residents and formed friendships with them. These relationships with people outside my age range were eye-opening and gave me a glimpse into their lives and experiences. What had started as a job turned into much more.
Before working at Water’s Edge, I believed in the idea that important values, like connections with others, would slowly diminish with age. However, I’ve realized that human nature is rooted in interpersonal connections, and that will never change. After witnessing the day-to-day lives and values of seniors, I realized that the most vital part of life is in our relationships with the people we care about.
The Lasting Impact of Childhood Interests
Childhood interests are often dismissed as phases, but I am living proof that they can leave a lasting impression on our lives and who we grow up to be. They influence who we become and should be nurtured through our childhood.
Looking back, my early love for elephants was never just about the animal itself. It was an introduction to values that have shaped my life and interests: community, empathy, and human connection.