What Makes You Unique

Growing up, I had a basic understanding of diversity and the importance of inclusivity. Before attending the University of Maryland, I only considered race and gender when thinking of diversity since those are two of my own identities. Living in residence halls and getting involved in extra curricular activities, my self-awareness and understanding of other identities increased.

I have come to realize that diversity allows students to polish one another, leading to the depolarization of students and thus more rounded individuals. I have traveled a rather non-traditional path, and feel strongly that I can benefit others and feel just as strongly that I can benefit from them. The challenges I have faced, the community where I grew up, and my work experience all contribute to my individuality.

My empathetic nature, compassion for people, and a passion to serve are a few qualities that make me unique. Ever since I was a child, I have had a tender heart. I have always cared for people and their feelings. These qualities are what have made me a leader by nature, a friend to all, and these traits have led me to venture on many service opportunities, both big and small. I have grown up visiting my grandparents in rural east Tennessee and I have also spent lots of time in big cities such as New York City and Washington, D.C. visiting my uncle who has lived all over the world. These experiences of being in such opposite places have taught me that there is a place for everyone in this world, and it has taught me to connect with all types of people.

There are many valuable aspects to living in a diverse community, but the most valuable to me is the wide range of perspectives on world problems, and local situations. With a more diverse student body, People will bring new insights and ideas that others may not have thought of. It can also educate people about cultures, traditions, and backgrounds other than my own. This can be very helpful because with the knowledge of another culture,

Even if the colleges are achieving their goals to get a diverse student body to the campuses, they fail to get those groups to interact.  In the article “The Lie About College Diversity,” Bruni’s interpretation on diversity explains that common college diversity programs are categorizing students together with similar backgrounds. Only a number of programs accept students to interact with fellow diversity students with different cultures, backgrounds or ethnic groups. These programs do not motivate students to reach out and share their thoughts with other groups because they could get rejected.  By learning other points of view and having diversity in the learning environment, it also helps individuals communicate better.  It also opens minds to ideas and concepts they might not have considered and provide them with

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 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.

Blogger Aaron Thompson, professor of sociology at Eastern Kentucky University and coauthor (with Joe Cuseo) of Diversity and the College Experience , offers eight reasons why diversity matters at college: “ diversity enhances social development, prepares students for future career success, to work in a global society, increase knowledge base, promotes creative thinking, enhances self-awareness, and enriches the multiple perspectives.” Attending a diversity college gives you a terse perspective of the world around you and more complete view of your place in it. You might think you're the smartest student, but wait until you go to college and see people from all around the world are smarter than

Diversity is one of the most important components of modern day society. Some people are more traditional and resist the new age of diversity in Modern America, not realizing that diversity is what brings forth new ideas and new ways of living to make the world better for everybody. Whether some like it or not, diversity is an inevitable thing in any society now, college campuses included. These diverse campuses lead to an extremely large spectrum of ideas, personalities, beliefs, and cultures. Without this diverse campus no college would flourish, for diversity itself is what makes many schools great. Although on the surface I'm not what one would call a diverse person, my diverse thoughts and ideas and personality would help this school.

The diversity that I feel I can bring to my medical school class is my ability to adapt to change. Because of my parent’s careers, my family has moved a lot. Each time I had to learn to adjust to a new school, make new friends and adjust to difference customs. Because of this experience I have learn to face new challenges and new situations open minded. I have learned that change or differences in places or people are not necessarily bad. In fact change teaches us how to adapt and helps us become more resilient. It forces us to revisit our beliefs and helps us understand our own capacity for growth and learning. It challenges us and teaches us how to face difficult situations and it fosters creativity, new knowledge and new skills. I realize

Many people see the goal of diversity and inclusion as having the "correct" numbers of people from different groups. But having a community with the "correct" numbers or "enough" different people means nothing without the willingness to empathize with one another. As a hispanic woman who was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, I often feel like I am just another number. But my background means more than that -- in acknowledging the obstacles I have faced alongside the many privileges I have been granted, I have learned the importance of empathizing with all people. At NC State, I will strengthen campus diversity not being a number, but by truly seeking to understand and connect with those around me.

Ever since I began my undergraduate education, I have personally observed and benefited from the diversity of my peers. Growing up, diversity was essentially absent from my life. My hometown community is a congregation of white middle class Americans working in mostly white collar careers. I remember coming to Iowa and being blown away with the knowledge, perspective, and new understandings I gained from every interaction with someone who was unlike myself. In the past three and half year, conversations with international students have led to new friends from other countries; exposure to the different upbringing people experience has made me more aware of the benefits diversity offers. I would never have been able to accomplish the milestones I have without having the opportunity to flourish in such a diverse environment. I have complete confidence that I bring new perspectives and will contribute to immensely to the already diverse environment at the University of Minnesota.

I never truly experienced diversity until I moved three hours away to Greeley. Here, at the University of Northern Colorado, I have learned what it means to be a member in society. I exercise cultural competence every day and partake in classes that explore my ability to appreciate diversity. Before attending this university, I was raised ethnocentrically, now I understand there are many truths in the world. I have roommates and a significant other that have traveled to many different parts of the world and I share in some experiences and will continue to do so. Diversity is what makes our world so beautiful even if not everyone sees it that way. I hope to expand my perspectives of the world and bring my open mind and accepting philosophy to the University learning

I am both a female and Latina thus as a minority, the presence of diversity at a college is indispensable in order for me to feel at home. By becoming a part of your community I would be adding on to the cultural diversity that is already present at your campus. I would immerse myself in these cultures, therefore shaping me into a more knowledgeable human being. I would join your diversity related groups, such as the Latinx Unidos, and become more aware of my background as well as other people’s. Your campus would not only gain another voice advocating diversity but also another representative of the

One thing that makes me special is that I have ADHD also known as attention deficit hyperactive disorder. It took 6 years for the doctor to diagnose me. I used to always get in trouble, run around constantly, and couldn't focus in class. I swear there never was a day when I wouldn't be in trouble at home or in school. But after a few trips to Long Branch the doctor was able to diagnose me.