Point-counterpoint

When asked, "What does diversity mean to me?" so many thoughts come to mind. I guess to sum it all up in one short phrase, I would have to state a quote I made up one day that so perfectly expresses my feelings about this subject: "Diversity is the end point of someone's norm and the beginning of another's difference." I believe that diversity within any setting is definitely essential, but more specifically, I feel that it is a necessity in college. A college campus opens the door to the entire world without traveling anywhere else. Diversity is very important and needed to help one develop personally and professionally. It expands worldliness. College might be the first time someone has the opportunity to have real interaction with people from diverse groups. It broadens the horizons of those who may not have experienced certain things within their own life or culture, and it not only sheds new light on different lifestyles, but it also opens the door for new experiences. Diversity prepares students for future career success. Successful performance in today's diverse workforce requires sensitivity to human differences and the ability to relate to people from different cultural backgrounds. It is all the components that makes a person believe, act and think differently from the next.

Here at Southeast Missouri State University, I believe multiple students have taken different measures to bring not only a piece of themselves and their cultures to this campus, but diversity also. Personally speaking within the black community, organizations such as ABC (Association of Black Collegians) and BSU (Black Student Union) have been established in hopes of giving a voice to minorities. Although "black" is included in both titles of these organizations, they are open to all and actually include members of different ethnicities.

Although I am involved in culturally specific organizations, I'm also involved and passionate about organizations, events, programs, etc. that are geared more toward bringing us as a people together as one. An organization with a sole focus to inform and teach on this very broad subject is DPE (Diversity Peer Educators). Within this organization, we demonstrate that diversity is the very essence of who we are and why we are on this earth. DPE's purpose is to provide students with insight into campus life and help destroy the stereotypes and discrimination that separate cultures, beliefs and races. Their goal is to educate about diversity and help our society become more open and accepting. It also stresses that we should utilize diversity to learn to work together despite our differing views and ways of life. I am also employed through the office of Residence Life as a resident assistant. In this position I also play an important role in spreading the importance of diversity because I am able to touch so many at once.

SEMO is a very diverse campus compared to others within the state, and I am happy that I decided to attend here because it has really helped me come out of my shell in the diversity realm and open my eyes to others. I truly believe despite the many differences that make us diverse, we are all still one in the same. Yes, we may all come from different backgrounds and cultures and have a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, but we are still one race in my eyes and that is the human race!