My Cultural Backgrounds

What is my cultural identity? Personally, I don’t think I am completely assured on what my cultural identity is, but I can do my best on explaining it. However, I won’t get started on that yet, first I’ll explain the occasion of me learning about my identity. At almost the beginning of the year, it was announced in our English class that we would be doing an essay on our cultural identities. When my teacher announced this I thought to myself, “What in the world is a cultural identity, or even my cultural identity?” In these months, we have gotten to learn the definition of culture, and what it means to us, individually., I believe that culture means a group of people that share the same customs, way of life, and beliefs. Also, over these last couple of months we have been reading texts all about people knowing and understanding their cultural identities, meanwhile I still didn’t understand my own. All I know is that I was born on February 11, 2002, I like movies and music, and my mom is from Chile and my Dad is from Virginia. Now that didn’t feel like enough for me to write on, but then I started thinking about all of the cultural differences that my parents have had raising me as a person, and how those have all combined to make me. In my short 15 years of life, the culture clashes have sometimes affected me on my thoughts and opinions, which I’ll talk about later on. As well as how movies and music have affected my perspectives and opinions.

Growing up learning about my culture background was never really important to me up until now. I always assume that all I needed to know was that I'm African American nothing more nothing less. Entering this class and being on this topic has really made me wonder what really is my culture background. As I was reading on different cultures I was realizing that with my culture women can do anything a man can do. That’s with building buildings, fixing anything that’s broken, playing all kinds of sports and so much more. It doesn't matter if you’re a man and your cooking in the kitchen just like it doesn't matter if you're a woman and your working in the fields. The only thing that’s different with men and women is that ones a male and the other

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

In the Honors College, I will add much diversity. Growing up in a biracial family household, I have been immersed into two completely different cultures, languages and societal expectations. By ethnicity, my father is Hispanic; however, he grew up in France and stayed there until he received his PhD degree. While living in France, my father was poor and lived a simplistic lifestyle. One Christmas he was gifted a dictionary from his parents, and it was the best gift he has ever received. Unlike my mother’s parents, his parents did not care about

My cultural background is English, I am an atheist I don’t believe in much but I do strongly believe that people should be treated equality. I am a very open minded person when it comes to diversity and others beliefs. I have never experienced my views impacting others negatively I have always educated myself on other beliefs so I don’t offend them but if my views did impact others

While I may not have had much exposure to diversity in my hometown, I have done my best to put myself out there and learn from those who have backgrounds different from my own. I even participated in the Walk a Mile in Her Hijab event last Spring. I think coming to Loyola has helped me to understand my personal privilege, and recognize that I have much to learn regarding all the beautiful things that each individual brings to the table.

Growing up in a multiracial, multicultural household I have been fortunate enough to experience diversity at a young age. NC State’s diverse campus would expose me to different cultures, religions, and ethnic groups, all focused on enhancing the legacy of NC State. Exposure to these different lifestyles would increase my knowledge about different issues minorities from around the world have been faced with. The diversity would allow me to help implement new ways of increasing diversity throughout society, and college campuses, allowing NC State to be a model for the world. Campus diversity is important in making sure all students are comfortable in their learning environment. Being able to share my life experiences and background would allow

As an African-American female coming here to Kutztown was a new experience. Attending a predominantly white school was nothing new to me, but coming from a city schooling experience was completely different than the town setting of Kutztown University. It was difficult getting adjusted to life at Kutztown, I did not know anyone and I did not have a roommate for the better part of my first semester; I kept to myself more. The diversity of Kutztown is not apparent at all. It’s buried under A.C.E. activities or mainstream organization funding. In direct correlation to the educational aspect of the matter, most professors that I have encountered are aware of the various issues are respectful to everyone so I speak for my peers. The diversity issue on campus comes into play within the student population.

As a member of several clubs and organizations, I have always valued the wide range of people you can find within the walls of my high school. If you walk into my Physics lab, you will find me collaborating with a dancer strongly involved in his cultural heritage and a volleyball player in the engineering academy. If you come to my Calculus class, you will see me calculating derivatives with a football player, a snowboarder, a National Honor Society officer, and a painter. The word “diversity” is often used to describe a cross-cultural population, but it is so much more than that. At Bartlett High School, students originate from hundreds of different cultures, with an abundance interests, and participate together in an assortment of activities.

As a person who is very open to different ideals and processes, I strongly believe that diversity is one of the most important tools to success in education, work, and life. The area of North Carolina that I come from is very distinct in its homogeneity; Marvin, North Carolina, is a wealthy, successful community but ultimately lacks in diversity. Growing up in an area constricted by unvarying ideals and views, one may become out of touch with differing thought processes or approaches to different aspects of life. NC State is truly a community that is diversified by dissimilar attributes, and these distinctions are what make a community great. I believe that I will able to benefit immensely from the campus diversity by being able to collaborate

I’m think I very cultural competent because I know although you can be dark skinned does means you have the same cultural background. I have lived in Korea for one year. I been to Japan and Mexico. My son father is Haitian and when females from his country comes over they give hugs and a kiss on the cheeks. The males and females all consider each other family. It just a big different from being African American most of us would be offended. If I had to work with Korean youth, I know they are giving more independence at young age. Americans are more protective over their youths. As a counselor, I knowing the norm of my client/ patient cultural, will help me communicate with the client. I can only do this by stating up today on the latest research,

My childhood is one of the most meaningful things to me. My parents raised me to have a fun, experienced childhood. One cultural experience that I will never forget from my childhood is Christmas time. My favorite holiday is Christmas, so my parents have always made a big deal about it, but it has also been beneficial to them! When I was younger, every Christmas Eve we would bake cookies for Santa and then watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. But, before we watched the movie, my parents would make me clean out the fire place that way Santa did not get dirty when he came down the chimney, so that’s how their tradition was beneficial for them but so much fun to me. Looking back, I don’t know why I thought that part was fun. So, this cultural tradition is important to me, because it was something that my family could do together and celebrate the holiday. Even though I don’t believe in Santa anymore and my brother and I are both grown up, we still bake cookies on Christmas Eve and watch a Christmas movie.

I consider my ethnic and musical background to be not just African by blood; but American by birth. When I visited Africa, I noticed a lot of differences; as well as a lot of similarities, in the Western culture and African tribal culture. No matter where I am or the type of music I listen to, I have always been entertained and pleased by the sound of music; but I have always felt a deeper comprehension and connection through the power of music. The most rarest and extraordinary gift music has brought, that not many people; such as myself acquire, is the ability to truly relate to, feel, and live through the music; and have it live through you as well.

The school atmosphere was different I was hanging with Caucasian girls and the African American children did not understand what I was doing being so close to children opposite of my own culture. At that point, I was unsure of what their problem was but realized they were sheltered from other cultures and raised differently. This caused several fights as a child because other children would call me a “little white girl” and I had no idea of what that meant and was offended. I was raised around majority boys in the neighborhood, until I started playing softball, some would consider me as a tomboy. So

I grew up with a very diverse cultural background. My father is an immigrant from India and my mother’s parents are both immigrants from Italy. This mix of societies has taught me to be open to different customs from around the world. Since then, I have always been fascinated with other cultures and how they are all connected while still maintaining fundamental differences. Because of this, I would love to have the opportunity to immerse myself in a foreign culture by studying abroad with MIT.