How Diverse Am I? Elizabeth Degnan

Prior to completing the "My Life Experiences" diversity survey, I viewed myself as a person who is multicultural. As a teacher that subscribes to social justice theory, it is impossible, really, for me not to embrace "the other." Sometimes, "the other" is a student with a skin color unlike my own. Other times, "the other" is a student with dyslexia which results in below grade level reading ability. Still, "the other" can be the educator that does not share my values and educational philosophy.

I scored a 62 on the survey, which places me in the "monocultural, but moving in a multicultural direction" group. I was raised in the inner city of Rochester. I attended private schools with students predominately like me, although various black and Hispanic students were present during my educational career. It wasn't until I was living on my own, and working to support myself while attending college courses at night that I honestly began to consider people not outwardly like me with more respect and appreciation. Finally, when I decided to become a teacher, a little light bulb clicked: at the core, each and every one of us is more like “the other” than unlike him other. While it is important to embrace our differences, it’s equally important to make connections and develop relationships through our “sameness.”