Diversity is like a salad of people … mixed well.

Diversity can mean many things to many people. For the purposes of introducing this chapter, we spoke to a number of students about their personal experiences with diversity. At Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, we asked students to tell us about themselves, where they were from, why they decided to attend college, and how diversity has played a part in their lives, both in college and elsewhere.

The students ranged in age from nineteen to twenty-five and grew up in places as varied as New Zealand, the state of Florida, China, New York City, and Mexico City. Most of the students chose Florida Atlantic University because of its numerous academic opportunities and its diverse community. Leticia is the first person in her family to attend college, and she explained, “The reason I decided to go to college was to ensure a better future for myself and set a good example for my younger sister.” Some of the students are adjusting to life in America for the first time, while others were born and raised here.

Being an international student and living far away from his family was a tough transition for Wei, but he said that “despite the challenges, the opportunity to meet and interact with students from diverse backgrounds has been enriching for me personally and academically.” Some of these students came to Florida Atlantic straight from high school, while others returned to college after a break. These students bring their own unique experiences to Florida Atlantic, and they strive to learn about the differences and similarities among them.

We asked the students to talk a bit about diversity and how it has played a part in their education. Darrell believes that it is important to seek out other people and other opinions. He said, “Your view in life is one of billions. Get to know what your peers’ thoughts are!” Leticia, Olivia, and Simone emphasized getting involved on campus so that you can learn to work with many people toward a common goal. As Simone put it, “Diversity brings language skills, new ways of thinking, and creative solutions to different problems.” Darrell reminded us that diversity is international, adding, “The Internet and improved transportation mean that contact between countries is increasing. Learning about diversity equals learning people skills.” Olivia summed it all up: “Diversity is like a salad of people … mixed well.”