I was born and raised in a very small community with not much diversity. My family originates from Haiti. My source of outlet to explore or learn other cultures would be social media and school. Although I have experienced diversity through social media and school I still do not believe everything I hear or see. As I watch other cultures or learn different beliefs I begin to ask myself rather what I was taught during my upbringing had any fact to it. I hardly know where to begin to relate the dissimilarities in my upbringing. However, I do desire to remain culturally enhanced as I continue my journey in life. My identity has been enlightened and educated by my experiences of different cultural settings. Growing up I’ve always made the assumption that I had a sense of what culture was.
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I figured because I had my own culture other people’s culture were similar. I did not realize culture was just a simple way of life. When we think of culture many things come to us like religion, language, gender, and class but culture does not only refer to those particular things. Due to my new understanding of the culture, I can look back on remarkable experiences and different life impacts as shaping my identity with social groups. With my newfound understanding of culture, I’ve realized my values and beliefs have expanded. As I reflect on my background in the school system it becomes clear to me why I had an advanced knowledge of true culture for certain types of social groups. My parents placed me in schools with race diversity; throughout my life, I was able to have the multicultural education. From Pre-K to eighth grade I attended St. Michaels the Archangel then from freshman year to sophomore year I went to St. Francis de sales high school only to later transfer for junior and senior year to Holy Trinity High School. During my time in each school majority of the population were whites, Hispanics, African-American and mix children. In my opinion, during our time in school, I would say many of us were cultureless. About two to three times a month the entire school would have to attend mass services. Several of us knew our religion was not catholic but for some reason, many of us participated in every aspect of the mass. I remember telling my parents about this one day and they had to sit me down to explain our religion and beliefs. After, the conversation with my parents I had limited participation in the Catholic services at school. In high school, I was a part of a few extracurricular activities. I played softball, volleyball, and I was a part of the French club. Often, people would say to me “yeah I can see you playing those sports and being a part of that club”. I never understood stereotypical description others would have towards one another. In many instances, I would ask well “what do you mean by that?” Responses would be because you have a Haitian background French is simple for you to comprehend than the next student; also you’re tall and lean so you seem perfect for the sports volleyball and softball. At that point in my life, I found myself facing a different style of diversity. Throughout my junior and senior year of high school, I begin to face challenges fitting in social groups. I remember my parents always telling me to be empathetic of others that were different than
I figured because I had my own culture other people’s culture were similar. I did not realize culture was just a simple way of life. When we think of culture many things come to us like religion, language, gender, and class but culture does not only refer to those particular things. Due to my new understanding of the culture, I can look back on remarkable experiences and different life impacts as shaping my identity with social groups. With my newfound understanding of culture, I’ve realized my values and beliefs have expanded. As I reflect on my background in the school system it becomes clear to me why I had an advanced knowledge of true culture for certain types of social groups. My parents placed me in schools with race diversity; throughout my life, I was able to have the multicultural education. From Pre-K to eighth grade I attended St. Michaels the Archangel then from freshman year to sophomore year I went to St. Francis de sales high school only to later transfer for junior and senior year to Holy Trinity High School. During my time in each school majority of the population were whites, Hispanics, African-American and mix children. In my opinion, during our time in school, I would say many of us were cultureless. About two to three times a month the entire school would have to attend mass services. Several of us knew our religion was not catholic but for some reason, many of us participated in every aspect of the mass. I remember telling my parents about this one day and they had to sit me down to explain our religion and beliefs. After, the conversation with my parents I had limited participation in the Catholic services at school. In high school, I was a part of a few extracurricular activities. I played softball, volleyball, and I was a part of the French club. Often, people would say to me “yeah I can see you playing those sports and being a part of that club”. I never understood stereotypical description others would have towards one another. In many instances, I would ask well “what do you mean by that?” Responses would be because you have a Haitian background French is simple for you to comprehend than the next student; also you’re tall and lean so you seem perfect for the sports volleyball and softball. At that point in my life, I found myself facing a different style of diversity. Throughout my junior and senior year of high school, I begin to face challenges fitting in social groups. I remember my parents always telling me to be empathetic of others that were different than