Student Profile with Introduction

image
Florida Atlantic University Students

Olivia Castilla, 19 / Undecided major

Simone Hisakawa, 20 / Graphic Design major

Darrell Stiehl, 25 / Sociology major

Wei Zhan, 21 / Marine Biology major

Leticia Turner, 19 / Computer Science major

image Diversity is like a salad of people … mixed well. image

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.”

As demonstrated by the diverse group profiled here, a college or university serves as a microcosm of the real world—a world that requires us all to work, live, and socialize with people from various ethnic and cultural groups. In few settings do members of ethnic and cultural groups interact in such close proximity to one another as they do on a college campus. Whether you are attending a four-year university or an open-enrollment college, you will be exposed to new experiences and opportunities, all of which can enhance learning and understanding.

Through self-assessment, discovery, and open-mindedness, you can begin to understand your perspectives on diversity. This work, although difficult at times, will intensify your educational experiences, personal growth, and development. Thinking critically about your personal values and belief systems will allow you to have a greater sense of belonging and to make a positive contribution to our multicultural society.

assess your strengths

Your college or university campus offers many opportunities for you to experience diversity. Through classes, clubs, and informal interactions, you will likely have experiences that enable you to explore diverse ideas or meet people from different countries, cultures, or religions. As you begin to read this chapter, think of specific examples of the ways that you’ve already experienced new ideas and people who are different from you.

set goals

What are your most important objectives in learning the material in this chapter? Think about the challenges that you’ve had in the past in the area of diversity, and write down three goals for the future, such as taking a course that is part of the “diversity curriculum” next term or asking your academic adviser for help in choosing that course.