My Culture And Other Cultures

After taking the assessment form, I scored 32 points, meaning that I have given thought to and are actively involved in talking and addressing some of the issues that was stated in the assessment. I think that this score is spot on for me, because I feel that I am always willing to learn about new or different cultures that are either related or have some types of relation to my own culture, or different from my culture. For example, one of my best friends is Haitian. I learned that majority of Haitians are from African descent because the island was originally used as a port for the North American and South American slave trading industry. One other thing that I learned as my best friend and I grew older, was that in a traditional Haitian

to allow people a piece of sanity and balance within their lifestyle. When it comes to culture

In this paper I will begin by defining personal culture and national culture. After, I will then elaborate my own personal and national culture. I will continue to talk about the subject with the person that I have chosen for my cultural group, my mother, and I will identify her personal and national culture. Lastly, I will talk about my own personality and how it has a connection with my own natural culture; knowing this is important, it lets us know who we are, and how we act with people who are from different cultures.

Being born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, I was exposed to many different cultures. A few of which were Hispanics and German. They both had different languages and customs. My mom would take us to a festival in San Antonio yearly that was called the “Texas Folklife Festival”. There, our family would experience many different cultures with singing, dancing, food, art, and language. Our family enjoyed learning about the different places others came from and how they celebrated their heritage. Learning to appreciate where others came from and their back ground, gave me a better appreciation for differences.

Culture, race, ethnicity, religion, and even family are key elements to our identity. Our experiences and surroundings help us determine who we are as a person. As for me, I come from a Mexican family of six members; my mom, my dad, my three brothers and me. The absence of a sister and the interaction with three brothers made it easier for me to socialize with boys rather than with girls.

Raymond Williams (Hutchison, 2011) said “culture is one of the two or three most complicated words in the English language” (p. 247). When I thought of culture, I used to picture food, festivities, clothes and country. Just like the nurse, I thought that if learned about one culture, I understood everybody in that culture. But as I started expanding my knowledge the meaning of culture started becoming harder to define. Different subjects seemed to have different definitions of what culture is. The idea expanded until it was not just a check list but “a set of common understandings, manifest in act and artifact. It is in two places at once: inside somebody’s head as understandings and in the external environment as act and artifact” (Hutchison, 2011, p. 246). The definition above explains why social workers need to learn cultural humility. It clarifies that because culture is both behavior and act, it is interpreted differently by different people. In other words, two people can be from the same exact place and still have different cultures.

My parents came to the United States to pursue education. They both left everything behind to seek a better life and achieve the American dream. They raised my sister and I with their culture in mind which immersed me in. My parent’s positive influences encouraged me to never give up as well as welcome others with open arms.

Culture is the definition of a person, like the prologue to your favorite story. The not so scientific DNA that makes you, you. The influences and people that shape your behavior, and change your characteristics. It is the environment in which you are surrounded by. The reasons behind your peculiarity. Your culture is the most important thing, your culture is you. My culture is the constant of support that my family gives me, even if I do screw up sometimes. My culture is pureness of the love that I receive, and knowing how genuine it really is. My culture is the reliability of my friends, and the constant reassurance that they have my back. I am extremely family oriented and this allows me to succeed in tackling my dreams, one at a time.

Culture and diversity are a huge part of our everyday lives. "Diversity refers to all of the ways in which people are different"(1) and culture refers to language, beliefs, and rules. There are many aspects of diversity that make up our personal identity. Four specific ones that come to mind for me personally are, that I was born and raised in the same place known as Kennewick WA, my whole family, immediate and extended live in the same region, I am a Christian and grew up in the church, and I was homeschooled when I was younger then put into public school. Those are all things that are unique to me and have influenced my personal diversity.

The first five things that come to mind that have affected my personal culture are family background, religious affiliation, language, ethnicity, and friends. I come from a family with both parents and several siblings. Everyone in my family is Christian, all of them having grown up in the church, typically Nazarene. My entire family is made of Caucasian, native English speakers. Because of that, most of my friends are also native English speakers and all Christian.

Diversity is a very significant part of my life, so to hear that Wellesley celebrates women of all different cultural backgrounds is one the biggest attractions that Wellesley has to offer for me. As a woman who comes from a family that consists two different languages and multiple minority races, it is often hard for me to feel represented and included, let alone celebrated. For many people, when they hear the word “diversity” they envision only a group of minorities. For myself, diversity is not just about including those with brown skin, it is about the exchange of all cultures and ideas. From political views, to language, to food, to pop culture, the exchange of these ideas makes for a diverse community and it is clear to me that Wellesley represents this idea of sharing experiences. I much as I love when I see faces that look like mine, I am equally thrilled when I encounter an opportunity to learn about someone else’s

Even before I was old enough to be in 4-H I was embraced in the culture. I am a fourth generation 4-H member. I have eaten meals in the same as my great-grandmother's flags that she had for her 4-H club. I grew up looking at the club booths at the fair, and looking at their projects. While I have not always been a part of 4-H, 4-H has always been a part of me. Growing up it just looked like something fun to do. Then when I was old to be a cloverbud and eventually a regular 4-H member I realized not only is it fun but it is significant in teaching me life lessons such as responsibility, time management, the importance of helping others and so much more.

Cultural paradigms make up a person’s identity, beliefs, values, and behavior. The paradigms tell us how human existence works, what is possible and impossible, what the rules are, and how things are done, shaping an individual’s reality. People are emotionally committed to their paradigms and give up or change them with great difficulty (Diller, 2015). “It is learned as part of the natural process of growing up in a family and community and from participating in societal institutions” (Diller, 2015, p. 93).

Religion, social economic-status and culture was what affected my values and norms that I used while I was growing up. I come from a catholic family and my parents made me go do by 1st communion and confirmation. There they thought me to always follow god and to always treat with respect people who are older than me. My culture also always thought me to always respect my parents and obey with anything they say. My culture has always thought me to never forget where I came from and to also never forget the people that help me get to where I am.

The environment, family, and community I have grown up in has shaped me as a person. So far, I grew up in the same house all seventeen years of my life. My personality has grown and molded over the years of middle school and high school based off the lessons I have learned and the things I’ve been through.