SkillsUSA and High School

Diversity is said to make us unique and beautiful, yet too often it creates the ugliest conflicts. History will tell us more often than not that fundamental components of human life (race, religion, politics, culture, etc) are the root of many conflicts. Yet, people seem to make our discrepancies seem praiseworthy, and that we must accept them wholeheartedly. Although acceptance is crucial in forming a more empathetic society, it is important to recognize that one’s willingness to accept others is shaped by their past experiences and upbringing.

As an adult, a parent, and an educator it is my social responsibility to make sure that the children I am entrusted with are aware that not everyone lives the same kind of lifestyle. We are all different in some way or another and that doesn’t make me any better or worse than anyone else. This can be a challenging concept for children that have grown up with only people of the same race, which hold the same beliefs and are very similar in the majority of their ways.

Throughout my childhood I could never say I had the most exciting life, even now I can still say that about my daily routine. Although my family put effort into nurturing me into a well-rounded member of society since youth, I never felt any change or progress personally; it was more as if I simply adapted to whatever expectations my elders had of me. I know this feeling did not apply to me only, in fact, I was once in a classroom full of fifty-two people who accommodated to whatever came their way.

We are all a product of our environment. What we hear and see while we are growing up, becomes the norm. This was the case for me. Since being removed from that environment, I have realized that this is a big world that we live in and I have to share it with a lot of people, no matter what our differences are.

As I grew older, it was impossible to notice that my world was imperfect. In elementary school, all my parent’s problems here hidden; I didn’t understand my family’s economic status. As I grew older and began to ask my parents question about our lifestyle and compared it to the other people around us. This conversation would always end in the same place; because we can't afford it. My high school is composed of economically unstable families, and economically stable families. Seeing that other families were better off than mine, I grew up with the idea that a comfortable life, is a luxurious life. I know that others around

I was raised alongside my brother in the suburbs of Denver, more specifically, the city of Highlands Ranch. Whether the residents of Highlands Ranch care to admit it or not, it is one of the least diverse areas in the country. It is mainly composed of middle to upper class conservative white families where the most change they’ve had to deal with is to that of the seasons. Don’t get me wrong, Highlands Ranch is great place to live and an even better place for a kid to grow up in; its safe, full of resources, and an all around pleasant area. However, concerning diversity and the open-mindedness of the area is lacking. Thus I am extremely lucky to have had the parents that I did, for the lessons they’ve taught my brother and I concerning how to treat others different from ourselves were especially valuable.

Throughout my career, I have dealt with a very diverse population of individuals. In the beginning of my career in the helping profession I worked as a houseparent in a residential facility for troubled youth. I lived with and counseled a group of young women that came from a variety of socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. From there, I moved on to casework with a local department of social services. At that time I was involved with case planning and management with families who had their children placed in foster care, or were at imminent risk of placement outside of the home.

When I look out into the world it does not take long for me to realize that we are all different in a plethora of different ways. We all grow up in many different societies and

The world is over 196 million square miles that is home to over 7 billion people all with unique qualities and backgrounds. Me being a caucasian living in Lakewood Colorado I lived though the generic lifestyle of a christian. Church every Sunday and quiet family meals were normal for us but what I didn’t realise was that there was a whole world of ethnically and culturally different people just an ocean away.

After doing a self-assessment on my background I believe in time I have changed my views on certain aspects of the diverse society in which we all live in. I strongly believe my background, the way I was brought up and my experiences influence majorly on my values and beliefs as well as my interaction in a diverse society. I have many different attitudes towards races, ethnicity, gender, social class, religion, sexual orientation and abilities and these are explored below.

As a poor Asian who ventured out of a dominantly white, small town, I understand the consequences of being a minority. This is how my passion to serve the underserved originated, and why I have partnered with service organizations such as Berea Buddies and AmeriCorps. Being a member of these empathetic communities has deepened my gratitude for how beautifully diverse our world is and for all people regardless of the challenges they face. For example, upon entering my service year to mentor children in D.C. public schools, I was told by almost everyone that there is no helping those children because of the family and monetary problems they encounter. Their responses reminded me of the comments I heard when I decided my life after high-school.

“You are a product of your environment.” W Clement Stone emphasized this, stating that we are made who we are from what whe experience. I grew up with different cultures, one being Mexican, the other American. Along with this, my parents had opposing social, political and religious beliefs. Due to a cultural contrast and a mix, I am able to recognize disparities which paved the way for my passion in social activism, and religious independence.

Attending a school in the Middle East where the majority of the students were of a different background than me forced me to realize that not everyone accepts what

Man is a product of the culture in which he is born and brought up. For the same reason, no one can negate the influence of the society in forming one’s personality. I am well aware of the fact that my views, thoughts, and attitude have been shaped by the society I live in; hence, any attempt to sketch my personal experiences would be incomplete without referring to the part played by my surroundings. Throughout my life, I have paid utmost importance to initiating and maintaining interpersonal relationships with others. I had to face varied situations out there, both joyous and depressing. However, each instance was a great lesson for me to learn several things about my practical life – I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say that I have learned more outside the four walls of my classroom than within them. My autobiography is closely associated with my social connections including my experiences with my family, educational institution, and the larger society I reside within.

“Our views and behavior depend to some degree on our social location in society—our gender, race, social class, religion, and so forth.”(Barkan, 2013). As I have grown up and my perspective of the world has broadened I have realized how narrow my views were. I grew up in Germany, Italy, and Hungary before moving to the USA, but because I was so sheltered I really didn’t know what was really happening in society. As I grew older I have come to realize the socialization process did help me develop my values, beliefs, morals, my religious outlook, my political affiliations and what not.