This summer I am going to be an Orientation Leader for Santa Clara University. I am very, very excited about it and cannot wait for the orientation sessions this summer!
Me with all my kiddos this summer
Specifically, I am going to be an Orientation Leader (OL) for the Unity RLC. Unity’s motto is all about diversity, which really reminded me about some of my classmate’s research projects about diversity in college. I have lived in Unity this year, and I believe that the Unity values of diversity were key to my feeling so included and welcomed here during the first week. The people who live in my building are all from different backgrounds and walks of life, and I have benefitted so much from having these interesting people to talk to and be friends with.
Around campus, there might not be a lot of racial diversity, however there is definitely a diversity of ideas, religious values, socioeconomic diversity, geographic diversity, and more. I personally have met people who have helped me grow and changed my opinions because we have come from two extremely different backgrounds and I had never thought of their side of the story before. However, this is not to say that racial diversity is not important. As a Latina woman I absolutely believe that racial diversity is key to having a more well-rounded establishment.
Not only is it key, but it is also interesting to learn about different cultures. No one wants to live in a cookie cutter world, and I absolutely do not want to attend a cookie cutter institution of higher learning. Luckily, I was place in one of the more diverse dorms on campus. However, there is still work to be done in regards to diversity. We as a school and as a people need to work on being more inclusive and accept and support those who are minorities. This summer, my chant for Unity is going to be…
“Unity, diversity, you wish you were in Unity! U-N-I-T-Y…U!!”
This is a chant that should be screamed from every corner of campus, and every corner of the world because it represents a more inclusive and united world.
Image:
Image 1: https://www.camplaurel.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/P01-01-2.jpg
Image 2: http://giphy.com/gifs/orange-is-the-new-black-diversity-sag-2016-l2JIbCs6LjtldOXIc