Diversity Personal Statement

The people in the world that we live in are extremely diverse, in terms of the nationalities, religions, gender classifications and physical abilities. Social workers must have a clear understanding of the consequences of diversity and difference and the mechanisms of oppression and discrimination as they relate to human development. The range of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds that social workers will practice in is huge. Because of this, social workers must have an understanding of the values and attitudes of a multitude of different cultures as well as an understanding of their own attitudes and

I was very excited when I saw this essay prompt because diversity is actually one of the main criteria that drew me into NC State. All throughout my schooling life, for as long as I can remember, I never attended any schools that were diverse. There was always one extremely predominant race or gender, and it’s something that truly disturbed me. I am excited to attend a college that is so diverse in many aspects, that I will be able to benefit from in multiple different ways. I will be able to learn and understand new perspectives which will help me gain an open mind and heart to be able to accept different kinds of people. I will be able to familiarize myself with different backgrounds and cultures, because I am so accustomed to my own, I

I am very interested in participating in the SIUE Diversity Summer camp because I am very passionate about healthcare and I also want to become a pediatrician when I am older. I am currently in medical terminology, chemistry I, and health occupations. In these classes, I do very well in, and it makes me more interested in becoming a nurse. I also am on the board for Health Occupations Student of America (HOSA). I am leading a committee called the thirst project where you raise money for people to get clean water in third world countries. In HOSA I have designed the school shirt and helped represent the club at events. I am also apart of three other clubs in which I am thoroughly active in and while maintaining all A's in school. Being

“The multicultural training movement has indeed contributed to a greater and much needed understanding of the differences among various racial, ethnic, and cultural groups (Speight, Myers, Cox and Highlen, 1991).” In looking at this statement counselors will need to expand their thinking outside of the Western European contexts. There is a difference between Western culture and other cultures. Sue & Sue, 2012 states “ each cultural/racial group may have its own distinct interpretation of reality and offer a different perspective on the nature of people, the origin of disorders, standards for judging normality and abnormality, and therapeutic approaches. (p. 45).” As we are brought together with more cultures it is imperative to understand the differences, which will enable counselors to become culturally competent.

To participate in the Diversity Project would be excellent experience to partake in research and gain knowledge on integrative approach towards the study of biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems. Through field work and laboratory training, I would be participating in laboratory research which will complement career development that will help with successfully applying to graduate school and choosing a career. With this experience it will enhance my academic goals by allowing me to get a firsthand experience in collaborating with other researchers and help them in their research. With this it will help in my academic goals because with this research I could use the experience as an internship class required for my major and possible use it for

As the University of Michigan is a prestigious school, the undergraduate college of Literature, Arts and Sciences appeals to many uniquely minded individuals. Meeting successful alumni and current undergraduate students, the quality of education received at LSA fulfill my desires. Pursuing within the Pre-Medicine major, many characteristics of the school prompted me to apply as Early Action as a result.     In the Literature, Arts and Science school, the ability of students to interpret in a broader viewpoint helps to establish diversity within the school.  

A writer named Jacqueline Woodson once said that; “Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.” This means that diversity is all about differences, because no two people are exactly the same. This includes, races, ethnicities, gender, religions, beliefs, favorites, opinions, style, learning style and anything else that makes someone who they are as a person. This definition of diversity coincides almost identically with inclusive ideas in regards to disabilities. The question I have, however, is whether or not Inclusive Theories can be used when there are no children with disabilities present in the classroom. In an attempt to come up with an answer I interviewed a second grade teacher, Ms. Smith* at a Quaker school.

Dr. John B. Ervin not only served as a pioneer during his historic years at Washington University but also served his community through encouraging engagement and diverse interactions. During my time in Highschool, I have strived to do the same by supporting inclusion and diversity through the clubs, sports, and organizations that I take part in. Acting as a leader in clubs such as Gay-Straight Alliance and Students Promoting Justice and Equality has allowed me to support cooperation within different ethnicities, religions, and sexual preferences, while being captain of the Northville Highschool Figure Skating Club has allowed me to ensure representation and inclusion for all students. Since serving on the board of Students Promoting Justice and Equality, I have been involved in promoting understanding between a diverse group of students. Like John B. Ervin, I believe that in order to have unity and understanding, one must sit down with others to discuss divisions and conflicts surrounding their community.

As I reflect over my life, I appreciate the many diverse experiences I’ve came to encounter. My experience with diversity dates back to birth. I am from a small rural town, Moss Point, MS. and notably the last state to abolish slavery. The town currently has a population of 13,704 people and consists of 73% Blacks or African Americans, 23% Caucasian, 1% Hispanic or Latino and 1% bi-racial.

When I was young, I always wanted to pursue a career in business. Now I am finally getting the opportunity to make my dream a reality. Business intrigues me because it can be seen throughout the world and it is an essential facet of our daily lives. I see more than numbers and human interaction in business; I see businesses as some of the most powerful organizations in the world. A business degree will enable me to become a part of this influential business community and make a positive impact on our society.

Another goal of mine is to be able to practice cultural humility, a term I learned in a multiculturalism course in my undergrad. I plan to work with as many populations as I can throughout my career. I have my biases and generalizations of people and I want to be able to address them in a diverse classroom environment before going into the work field. I am most interested in working with and learning about Children, Youth and Women during my advanced year of study. Specifically with adolescents because of my plans to work in the CSEC field.

There are 7.4 billion people that populate the world we live in and call our home. Of those 7.4 billion people, 3.2 billion reside in the United States of the America. Many call it home; some call it their big community. In this big community, there millions of smaller communities in which every individual, once in their life, may join. A community can be described as a group with common or similar shared interests, goals, or attitudes.

In order to study the need of a racially and culturally diverse college campus, the journey and battles fought must be dicussed. While there is a lack of diversity on college campuses today, they are not completely devoid of people of color. However, there was a time when college campuses were one hundred percent Caucasian. Jonathan R. Alger, Jorge Chapa and a team of researchers conducted studies on various college classrooms. They then went on to publish their findings in a book titled Does Diversity make a Difference? The purpose of their paper was to discuss the importance of diversity and reveal the effects of non-diverse campus. They begin their book by taking a look into the history of diversity in America. The start of the Civil Rights movement along with President Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on poverty took place in the mid 1960s. These events forced the country to face the reality of the people of color in America. These Americans of color did not have equal access to education, jobs, housing, or other valued resources (Alger et al. 2000). College administrators and faculty were starting to understand the necessity of a diverse campus. The realized that people of color had just as much to offer to the United States as the Caucasian majority. During that time, “many higher education faculty members and administrators were deeply concerned that abandonment of race sensitive admissions and hiring, at a time when most minority groups continue to be unrepresented in higher education, will severely limit campus diversity and would undermine the learning environment for all students.” (Alger et al. 2000). Additionally, a lot of the traditionally white colleges and universities were provoked and questioned by the concerns of their students. The universities and colleges began to notice their inability to extend the same educational

The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon the diverse experiences that I have had in my personal and professional life. Fortunately, I have had a large mix of diverse friends and experiences in my life. This paper will discuss those diversities as well as the plan to expand on my current knowledge.

By the year 2050, nonwhites will represent close to half of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau projections. By 2005, the ethnic minority share of the workforce is expected to grow to 28 percent, up from 18 percent in 1980 and 22 percent in 1990. Although the African American population is now the largest minority group, the Hispanic and Asian populations are growing much faster. In 1994, the African American population was estimated to be 33 million, or 12.7 percent of the total population, up from 11.7 percent in 1980.