Diversity and Inclusion Workshop

While being an Orientation Peer Assistant and third-year Community Adviser, I have been prepared to work with diverse students with different backgrounds, cultures, identities, and values. "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department" representatives hosted workshops to educate and train other employees and me on how to engage with diverse students. As part of the training process, I learned to be mindful of microaggression and gender identities and pronouns. Also, we had an activity that allowed us to recognize how different the values of the people around us. Through activities, I learned how some people in the room were not as fortunate as I was because of their insecurities, socioeconomic status, race, and other reasons. Therefore, understating those struggles and differences allowed me to develop a better sensitivity towards others.

Diversity experience

So What?

In addition to this, one of the main takeaways from these workshops was that when we meet people with opposing views, it is crucial to understand from what perspective they are coming. So when disagreement occurs between my interlocutor and me, tolerance, respect, and understanding are crucial. In addition to this, people in the room might have completely different education levels, socioeconomic statuses, and identities, so considering such differences can help communicate more efficiently. Finally, the workshops helped me to identify efficient ways to communicate with people from diverse cultures. For example, when it comes to microaggressions, sometimes it is better to ask a question like "where is home" instead of asking "where are you from" because it will make your interlocutor feel like he has a strong accent that is hard to understand. Moreover, the better way to learn about other's cultures is by asking the right questions. For example, to understand cultural differences, it is good to know about interests, hobbies, and lifestyles, then more to deeper conversations after establishing closer boundaries. The process might take time, but it will help connect with diverse individuals and better understand their values and perspectives. In a nutshell, I learned a simple lesson: talk to people and ask the right questions to understand their cultural differences.

Now what?

I have met many people from different countries with their unique identities, values, and culture. Engaging with them is a joy for me as I always learn something new from our conversations. And every time I talk to them, I realize how similar we are based on values, interests, and goals. I will continue to maintain my intercultural engagement by working at the department of residential life.