Lend It Wisely: Attention as an Act of Service

The following is excerpted from a speech that Upper School Spanish teacher Paola Rubio gave to Upper School students during a community service meeting. Her words are a powerful call to action on the impact of service and attention.

We live in what many call the “attention economy.” Everything (social media, ads, notifications) is fighting for your focus. But have you ever stopped to think about what you actually pay attention to? And yes, I say pay because attention is a currency. You don’t just give it away, you invest it.

In Spanish, we say prestar atención (to lend attention) implying that attention isn’t lost but temporarily placed somewhere valuable. So, where are you placing yours?

The greatest evidence of love isn’t words, it’s attention. When you truly pay attention to someone, you’re telling them, “you matter.” There is no better way to pay your attention than through service.

Service is different from charity. Charity often means giving something from a distance, but service requires presence, effort, and focus. It requires attention… not just to people’s needs but to the systems, the problems, and—most importantly—the solutions.

One of the greatest miracles of service is realizing that to change the world, all you need to do is direct your attention toward others. And the moment you start giving, something incredible happens: you start receiving. You gain perspective, gratitude, empathy, and a deeper understanding of your role in the world.

When you pay attention, your radar opens. You start seeing needs you never noticed before. You begin asking, How can I create value? How can I make an impact? That’s what service-learning is about—not just doing good but learning how to be an agent of change.

So today, I challenge you: Pay attention. Pay attention to things that are worthwhile. To the people who need to be heard. To the immediate world around you and the far world that awaits you. Because in paying attention, you’ll find the power to create real impact. And that, my friends, is the greatest investment you will ever make.