This paper was written for my Minority Perspectives class. The assignment was to create a multiple identities diagram, and then use that diagram to explore the concept of intersectionality in our own lives. The concept of intersectionality analyzes the various ways minority statuses are connected and effect each other. In class, we also learned how the ways these statuses interconnect effect out perceptions. For example, a white woman will experience a situation differently and have a different outlook than a black woman would, because that black woman experiences both sexism and racism. The majority of the class revolved around this idea of intersectionality. With every discussion we seemed to be able to tie it back to intersectionality. By applying this concept to my own life, it made it easier to identify the concept when it related to other examples. I often found this concept applicable in discussions in my other classes, as well as in daily life. By understanding this term, one can then understand those around him or her as well as the ways different systems of oppression effect and relate to one another.

This presentation was a group project I was assigned in my Introduction to Social Welfare class. The presentation was made using PowerPoint with the help of two other group members over the course of the semester. The assignment was to explore a U.S. policy and a specific population effected by that policy. After receiving the broad category of mental health in the U.S., my group decided to focus on veteran’s mental health policy. We focused particularly on the newest enacted policy: Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. After researching, we discovered various ways this policy failed to serve U.S. veterans. For example, because the system is so backup, veterans can go years and years without receiving care for mental disabilities resulting for combat. As a social work major and future social worker, it will one day be my job to advocate for my patients within the legal system. This assignment was great practice for the future when it will be my job to research and be aware of policies that effect my patients.

“India after Colonialism” was the title and subject of a presentation I made for my Comparative Studies class. The assignment was to create a presentation relating to the book A Passage to India. Many of the discussions we had in this class related to colonialism and its effects on native people. Likewise, the novel A Passage to India focused on colonialism in India, which is why I choose to research the effects colonialism had on India after the country gained independence. After researching, I was shocked to see the numerous way colonialism still effects India today. For example, before the British crown took control over India, the Indian economy was the second largest in the world. Under British rule, Indians were forced to buy goods from Britain instead of domestically, causing India’s economy to plummet. In a way, India is the poster child for the long lasting and damaging effects colonialism can have on host societies. This is why I feel that it’s important to realize the effects past injustices had on societies and how those past injustices play a role in present day societies. By doing this, one gains empathy and understanding about the way those societies function today in the wake of colonialism.