Diversity mean as stated in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to diversify. When I was thinking of exactly what diversity was I had a hard time thinking of a definition. This reason is due to the fact that I don’t really see extreme differences in people. I learned the only thing that differentiates people, are their differences in experiences.
Being at college the obviousness of the difference in race is a lot less than I would have thought. When I was looking at this college I went on the internet to review the stats of this university and found that the stats matched perfectly with the atmosphere. It said that roughly fifteen percent of the University of Missouri were minorities. Not that there is a problem with that It is just that when it comes to being racially diverse the university is not that diverse. An example of this is the constant events that I seen on campus that in my opinion seem to keep the campus apart. Events such as the Welcome Black BBQ and the Black Homecoming are examples of this. These events though good at allowing individuals to interact with their own cultures, hinder people from experiencing new and different cultures.
Though some events hinder the growth and experience of people the residential halls are a great place to meet people who have encountered different experiences. One such person is a floor mate of mine. Her name is Trupti Rami. Trupti is a Chicago native born and raised; she also comes from Indian dissent. If that doesn’t show you how her experience differs from many the fact that she is a vegetarian will. Trupti being from one of the most important cities in the United States and even the world grew up experiencing the different venues that are in Chicago. One such venue is the world renowned Lollapalooza music festival which helps to present new and already famous bands. The fact that she is Indian allows her to be able to have a different cultural out look on life. When I asked her what she thought of her heritage she stated, “I love being Indian it is a wonderful and vibrant culture.” I then asked her why she picked the life choice of being vegetarian. Trupti responded, “I was always a vegetarian the only one in my family that really eats meat is my dad and he really doesn’t eat meat that often.”
After hearing Trupti and my stories of diversity there is no reason that anyone could disagree that diversity’s true meaning, is the differences of experience that people gain
