By DePaul Healthy Trailblazer Journal reporters | Listening to understand, not just to respond, is one way to show empathy, says a DePaul staff member who works with school families.
Ms. Westfield, family connection liaison and high school coordinator, explains that empathy means putting yourself in someone else’s situation.
Being able to read and understand other people can help you make better decisions, help you connect with others, and help other people feel seen, according to the Psychology Today website and the American Psychological Association.
Usually when there’s a conflict between two friends, that’s when they might show empathy, said Ms. Westfield. One hopes that a person feels heard and understood. A lot of people hold in a lot of the stuff they go through. They don’t share things. They go through things at school they don’t share at home, or things at home they don’t share at school. It helps them feel connected to someone at school.
For people who are still developing empathy, it’s important for them to practice active listening, said Ms. Westfield. “I think it’s important to ask people, ‘how does that make you feel?’ Get more information and show support when needed,” she said. “The older I get, the more important I think it is to think about others’ perspectives. It’s not just conflicts with your peers, but sometimes you experience conflicts with your parents or siblings. It’s helpful to think about how they might be feeling.”
Ms. Westfield wants people to know that everyone is going through something. Before you open your mouth, think about what they might be experiencing. “Lead with love and kindness. It’s not always easy to do, but that’s a start. I try to remember that, even with strangers.”
Illustration by Kiana, 8th grade, DePaul, 2025-26.
