applepie132
Nov 17, 2023
Undergraduate / UBC - Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. (MAX 1500 Characters) [2]
Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience? (maximum 1500 characters)
As I was furiously scrubbing a table full of ink and mess, created by children who had left after a community event; I noticed a young child sitting alone not far from me. Taking multiple glances around the building, I couldn't see a parental figure, as all the children had left a while back after our event had ended. Unsure whether to approach this child or to report this issue, I proceeded to monitor them while I continued to clean, waiting for a parent to come out of the washroom to bring this child home. Time had passed, and I had swiftly finished cleaning stations and tables, but unfortunately, the child hadn't moved from when I first saw them. Which had pushed me to approach this child asking if there was anyone to pick them up. When they responded in fluent Mandarin Chinese, I was stumped. Although I had taken Chinese lessons, I had forgotten everything I'd learned over the years. Attempting to converse in two different languages is difficult, especially when one child is at the very least 6 years old while the other, is only fluent in English and Cantonese. We had begun trying to create symbols with our hands for more understanding between the both of us until we burst out with laughter. This was when I realised that although we both had differences, we were still able to experience the same emotions and empathy together. In the end, I ran around the building looking for any translator available to help. Funny enough, as I was bringing a translator to the child, I found them about to leave with their mother. Frankly, I was grateful for my outgoing and observative nature, especially in situations like this one. It has proved to be one of my greatest assets which kept this child safe and entertained while their mother was stuck in traffic. Overall, although I was hesitant, and didn't have tools on hand for this situation, I was able to learn that although there may be differences that can serve as a barrier to aiding others, it's important to recognize that there are many ways around barriers such as language.
Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience? (maximum 1500 characters)
As I was furiously scrubbing a table full of ink and mess, created by children who had left after a community event; I noticed a young child sitting alone not far from me. Taking multiple glances around the building, I couldn't see a parental figure, as all the children had left a while back after our event had ended. Unsure whether to approach this child or to report this issue, I proceeded to monitor them while I continued to clean, waiting for a parent to come out of the washroom to bring this child home. Time had passed, and I had swiftly finished cleaning stations and tables, but unfortunately, the child hadn't moved from when I first saw them. Which had pushed me to approach this child asking if there was anyone to pick them up. When they responded in fluent Mandarin Chinese, I was stumped. Although I had taken Chinese lessons, I had forgotten everything I'd learned over the years. Attempting to converse in two different languages is difficult, especially when one child is at the very least 6 years old while the other, is only fluent in English and Cantonese. We had begun trying to create symbols with our hands for more understanding between the both of us until we burst out with laughter. This was when I realised that although we both had differences, we were still able to experience the same emotions and empathy together. In the end, I ran around the building looking for any translator available to help. Funny enough, as I was bringing a translator to the child, I found them about to leave with their mother. Frankly, I was grateful for my outgoing and observative nature, especially in situations like this one. It has proved to be one of my greatest assets which kept this child safe and entertained while their mother was stuck in traffic. Overall, although I was hesitant, and didn't have tools on hand for this situation, I was able to learn that although there may be differences that can serve as a barrier to aiding others, it's important to recognize that there are many ways around barriers such as language.
