Diversity is a word that is thrown around a lot in news, and popular media. While many people have a vague understanding of what it means when a setting or society is “diverse” very few people actually comprehend the larger value of diversity. I was fortunate enough to get to attend an event hosted by the Ohio State Office of Diversity and Inclusion. At the event I was invited to reflect on how even little things in day to day life can seem vastly different for people of different groups. (social, ethical, racial ect…). An activity, which I don’t often spend a lot of time on. Towards the end of the class the room was guided in accessing their privileges, and silence fell as people took a moment to note the little things one does not normally think about. The short group discussion that fallowed this activity lead to some answers common to the whole (fortunate to have functioning legs and arms, privileged to be attending a University, and live in a free country) but there were also things that I had never thought of. One student mentioned the privilege of never having to be afraid of a Law Enforcement Officer. Now I recognize that all Police Officers may not be pillars of virture (which is in no way meant to undermine the value and bravery of their work) but I would never think of being afraid of someone in uniform for no reason other then the pigmentation of my skin. However, in the seminar I realized that there are many good people who, quite reasonably, share a mistrust of Police Officers due to their skin alone. To be totally honest I almost felt stupid for having never realized that before. But then when I read stories about police brutality they are not as personal to me as they are to others. This idea which was completely new to me makes total sense, but is something I never would have thought of. Now do I feel that this realization is going to have stark effects on every moment of my day to day life from hence forth? No. But in realizing something I never have before I feel I have gained a deeper world view, and so grown a little because of it. This is the real value of diversity. I guarantee if the room was full of people like me (middle class straight white men) the idea of a relationship with the police that is less than ideal never would have come up. Through the inclusion of different groups I was able to learn something about the people around me and the world I live in. The value of diversity in a society can be seen in far more then just a genetic sense, the wealth of ideas that a group of people coming from different backgrounds can bring into a room is staggering, especially when compared to the ideas a group of people of one background may have.