Get Into a Diverse Environment

Malcolm Forbes explained it best when he said, “Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.” (Click here for quote). Coming from a small town in Montana, I was never subjected to a very diverse environment. Most people where I live are middle-class, less educated, white, and 35 + years old. Not to say that there are not people outside of those means, but most of the people in my town fit into at least one of those categories. Due to this, when I first came to college, I got to have experiences that I had not had before. I also realized that diversity does not just include race and religion. I got to talk to people my age and be equal with them rather than inferior. I got to talk to people of different races and religions which opened my eyes to a whole new world. I got to speak with people who come from families both more fortunate and less fortunate than mine. Most importantly, I got to see how different people think, and still admire them for how they chose to go through life. I could listen to all they had to say, all while still respecting myself. All these interactions have helped me to grow into a young adult in a diverse environment. My main ideas when thinking about diversity include acknowledgment, respect, and being open-minded. These things can look different to everyone, and my ideas may not be the same as others. When I think of acknowledgment, I think about how we must understand that all people are different. No matter the class, gender, ethnicity, or any other difference that you have with another, you must understand that that is okay. If you understand the differences instead of putting them aside for another time, you can connect with people whom you may have never known otherwise. When I think about respect, I think about how we must respect how people feel, regardless of what we think. This can be as minuscule as how they handle certain situations. When I think about being open-minded, I think about how we must appreciate the differences that all people have which arise through different conditions. Humans are subject to much criticism and questioning when all they criticism and questioning when all they really need is someone to understand and listen to what they have to say. Dickinson State University, as well as most other colleges across the United States, pride themselves on the diversity of their campuses. Here at DSU, there are cultural clubs and global tables. These are events and organizations that focus on ethnicity. However, there are several religious groups on campus as well. Still, I think the best way to find diversity on campus is to just look around. Many of the people who I share my ethnicity and religion with are completely different from me in every other way. It is important to focus on how these variances make us stand out from others rather than make us feel different. Diversity makes the world go around. If we were all the same, what would be the point of living?