Coming from a fairly homogeneous hometown, I can say I wasn’t as educated about cultural differences as I would like to be. For this reason, after arriving at The Ohio State University, I have begun to engage with people I would not have been able to in my hometown and people with backgrounds that are different from my own. I also intend to study abroad, on another continent, by the end of my third year.
Sometimes I feel as though my lack of experience with diversity has, to an extent, deprived me of some intellectual breadth. Many times I feel unsure of the ways to be most respectful around others with different experiences – e.g., people who do not come from small, mostly-white townships in Ohio. Luckily there are resources on campus, like the Global Engagement Office, that can enable me to have some more experience with people of diverse backgrounds, before I graduate and enter the wider world.