Essay Instructions: Exploring the Relationship of "Identity" to Diversity Beliefs and Values (15%)
Purpose of Assignment: The purpose ofthis assignment is to (a) assist you in identifying
your own diversity beliefs and where they originated, and (b) explore the meaning of
your identity in your perception of diversity issues.
Relationship of Assignment to Awareness, Understanding, and Application: Personal
history and culture affects your beliefs, assumptions, ideas, and ways you process information. This assignment will help you to identify important aspects your "identity" (awareness) and think about how your identity is a "lens" that affects your interpretation of diversity-related issues (understanding). It will also help you to develop personal strategies for
Miami Plan Principles Emphasized: Understanding Contexts, Critical Thinking, Reflecting and Acting, Engaging with Other Learners (engaging achieved through inclass activity)
Assignment
I. In order to think about how your family contributed to shaping your beliefs and values, complete one of the following activities (A or B).
J. If you have access to family members such as parents or grandparents, conduct an "oral history" with one or more family members. You can construct the conversation in a variety of ways-this will be discussed in class. In your written work, include a summary of what was discussed. Also include reflections on how your family shaped your views, and how that affects your feelings about diversity-related issues.
K. Self-reflect on how your family affected your beliefs and values. Describe at least two specific examples from your memory. Also include reflections on how your family shaped your views, and how that affects your feelings about diversity-related issues.
II. Describe your current personal sources of cultural programming other than your family (e.g., the most important influences in your identity at present). Include a brief desription for each, and describe why each is important to you.
III. Based on your learning from parts I and II, answer the following.
A. What are the benefits of your cultural programming (past and present) in enhancing your diversity learning.
B. What are the limitations of your cultural programming (past and present) in enhancing your diversity learning. What strategies can you use in the future to counter those limitations?
Format of Paper
? The paper should have a cover page (including name of assignment(Identity), your name(Tyler Cook),
Semester(first) and class number and name(IDS 159-O).
? All parts of the paper should be word-processed, double-spaced, l2-point font.
? The paper should be stapled and include page numbers and a running head.
? The paper will be between 7-9 pages in length.
Here is a little about me, my identity, and cultural beliefs below(you do not have to necessarily include all this in the paper, just use it to get a better understanding of me and my culture so you can branch off with it):
I would consider myself a good athlete. In high school I was active in two varsity sports, those being basketball and baseball. My parents both wanted me to continue playing baseball in college but I was finished with it and my mind wasn?t going to be easily changed by them or anyone else. The main reasons that I am at college are that I knew I had some more growing and experiencing to do, but the job that I am pursuing is beyond me at this point. Also, a degree might come in handy if I want one down the road, but I also don?t rule out the fact that there may be something that I won?t use it for in the future. I come from a very small town with a lot of families with lower than the average income, with mine not being one of those families I feel that I have experienced life on both ends of the money social classes by knowing what it?s like to live like a poor man and also live like a wealthier one. My family and I have lived on 2 farms before coming to my home residing in a small village called Magnolia, which is in Ohio. This area consists of predominately white people, many of German or Italian decent. German would be included in part of my ethnicity along with English. There is also a little Irish and a bit of French but the English and German takes the load if it. For as long as I can remember I attended Sunday school and church at a tiny Christian assembly not far from home, but I no longer attend there regularly like when I was younger.
When the question, ?What do people think of me?? goes through my head I think to myself it really depends a lot on if they know me or not. I hate to think that first or second impressions of other people from the beginning is usually right because I will admit I am usually guilty of that but I am also usually pretty accurate too. Many people might think from the start that I keep to myself or that I don?t really like to do things and at times I am like that. It all depends on my mood too. I?ve heard people tell me I don?t smile enough and some others say the exact opposite and it?s somewhat amusing at times. There are times when one might think there is something wrong or I don?t like them when I?m just bored or don?t feel up to anything at the time. Some people may think I am a nice kid, some may think I?m a bad kid, and some might think I never do anything wrong. The main thing of late that run through people?s minds about me would have to be that I don?t care. I have mixed feelings on this thought because part of me is that way on my views about many things but only a very small part. Really I am just the type of guy who doesn?t let things bother me or get under my skin and obviously it always comes off as I don?t care or I don?t have any heart in things. I care about the things that are important to me and that I value and anything less than that I won?t sweat it or dwell on it when it doesn?t go how I?d hoped it went. Sometimes I enjoy all the misinterpretations just like anybody and I love to keep people guessing and actually I am a lot of these things and many more. It seems I hate to be categorized into just one description at all no matter what it is. Once I feel that I have achieved a title I go elsewhere to become something else and learn something new.
I think I want people to think many different views about me and I hope that they aren?t narrow minded and just stop once they have discovered only one. People should think of me as someone they shouldn?t over look because I have many different interests and probably many things in common. I want to be thought of as an individual, someone who goes his own way but is not a loner if that makes any sense. I want to be a person that is easy to talk to and understanding, one that strives for what I want and doesn?t let things get me down. Being open minded and most importantly of all a very well rounded person.