Culture is a topic that is very close to my heart, I believe that there is so much that can define a culture and the people that live within it. History has to be my favorite aspect of culture; it defines people in a way that is hard to articulate. To think about whom you are as a human and everything that goes along with that aspect and then it branches out further to a countries’ history, then a state or towns then finally to a family’s history. Learning where someone comes from can often be a hint or inspiration in where one can go. I approach learning about history with excitement, giddy with the opportunity to discover something new and how it might connect with today’s world. Understanding that culture is rich with history, it is often difficult to admit to myself that I feel culture-less in a sense. My family has not ever been ready to jump on my history bandwagon, the most information that I have been privy to, is about the recent history or drama that you find within a very extended family. Although, I am not one to oppose hearing about gossip, it leaves a lot to be desired when you are searching for depth or a story seething with interesting facts. So when I traveled abroad my senior year of college, the only idea that I held onto, was how excited and scared I was to go to Spain when I barely spoke a lick of Spanish. The first month in Spain was, needless to say, very difficult. I assumed that people would speak more English and that I would be able to, miraculously, express myself in Spanish one day. Of course, neither of these expectations held to be true, the rest of my time in Spain was spent attempting to portray myself in the best way possible. I realized that being American, or from the United States, came with its own set of expectations. I encountered many situations where it was assumed that I wanted to have a fun and exciting time with Spanish men or that I was wealthy because I was an American. Although, neither of these things was true, these are some of the stereotypes that come with being both from the United States and a study abroad student. This experience has shaped me in many different ways; it has showed me that my own history of being an American does not leave me culture-less, but rather, with a culture full of stereotypes both good and bad. It also showed me that learning a country’s history and culture through a native’s eyes can teach you lessons that you didn’t know were a part of the package.
My college experience was diverse in the way I approached what some deem to be one of the most important decisions of life. People from Indiana appear to go to the same higher education institutions; it is Indiana University or Purdue with a few people branching out to go to Ball State. I wanted something more exciting and Massachusetts seemed like a place that would be pretty thrilling. After, what I deemed the adventure chapter of my life, thus far, where I discovered my love of traveling and that out of state tuition was expensive, I decided to transfer from my small state school in Massachusetts back to Indiana University for my sophomore year. This decision impacted me greatly and I do not think I need to tell you of my disdain for the decision in the first place. I viewed my first school as a starting step to me and made me realize that I am a do-er. By this phrase I mean, there are some people who are able to observe others making a wrong decision and are able to avoid it or a good decision and they try to imitate it. I am more of a trial and error type person, I have to do it myself to know if it is right or wrong for me. Embracing this about myself, I jumped into many opportunities that being at large four-year institution offers, including being an RA and an Orientation Leader. These experiences shaped my life and are largely responsible for who I am today. These jobs, which were initially of financial necessity, became a way of life where it was possible to interact with dozens of different people every day; the challenge was to create opportunities to connect with those people. Having these experiences helped me to lay out an ambiguous road map for my life, one that hopefully would continue to use my passion and excitement for life to the best of my ability.
I distinctly remember a moment in college, at a time where the confusion of not having a specific identity was really plaguing me, I reached out to a person that I thought could help. Keep in mind that my undergraduate has five culture centers; this is a source of pride for the institution where it can offer different populations a place to call home. I asked my confidante, why there was not a white culture center, or even a woman’s culture center on campus. The response from this person made me sorry that I had ever even asked the question, that looking around campus should be a sufficient answer. The world at large is made up of those who look like me, who grew up with experiences comparable to my own. Although at the time, I felt put off, as though my question was not answered, but that moment has taught me to keep asking questions. It has encouraged me to look at the world through inquisitive eyes and to continue to delve into history lessons and to seek to find answers in other ways. I attempt to push out of my comfort zone more often to learn how to ask the right questions, I realize that I am able to identify with the different parts of my identity, being white, being a woman; these are the aspects that I am able to seek out for cultural experience of my own. As for the understanding of living in a predominantly white culture, there are still questions to be answered. I feel as though this experience was, at the time, a somewhat negative one, I realize now that it was a very necessary and positive moment.
Opening your mind when it comes to diversity is essential for a person to grow and learn. I value this statement and attempt to use this view to develop my own lens on the world. I hope to learn how to effectively share this message with colleagues and students. I also wish to learn as much as I can about different perspectives and the histories that surround them. I believe that the best way to do this is to expand your scope to be able to go into uncomfortable situations or awkward conversations, to search for answers that help you to grow as a person and try to understand another perspective. By participating in these learning experiences, I hope to view the world in a different and increasingly more accepting manner to help create an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Education is a form of equity that someone else cannot ever take back, it is a basic human right in the United States and it is vital for our country to uphold this view. Having diversity in a higher education setting enhances the variety of competitiveness that is within the workforce. By using the abilities of all citizens will help us to grow as a country, when people from different backgrounds and cultures bring their diverse ideas and talents to the table, there is more possibility for prosperity. Enriching and fostering diversity in a collegial setting helps to strengthen the community and educational experience. By being open to and learning from others whose backgrounds, beliefs and outlook on life is different we promote a type of environment that is built based upon mutual respect and whose members are judged on the quality of their character and not their differences. Lastly, a diverse educational setting provides personal growth, by challenging preconceived notions and misconceptions; it encourages critical thinking and problem solving skills. When someone is about to effectively communicate their view, they share their experiences to help create an increasingly complex and pluralistic society.
