Introduction
Diversity refers to the dissimilarities that exist among people based on aspects such as race, gender, political affiliation, and sexual orientation among others. The topic has become popular in many institutions globally. This situation has instigated moves to encourage diversity consciousness in not only workplaces but also schools among other social environments. A school setup is a representation of a socially diverse institution as it accommodates diverse people.
As a result, it becomes a pool of individuals with wide-ranging mindsets concerning various spheres of life. Accommodation of learners from different cultural groups can enrich the academic accomplishment of the students’ academic accomplishment and well-being besides motivating inter-ethnic acceptance among them. Such variations provide them with different opinions, unique experiences, and perspectives of life. This paper provides an insight into a personal action plan for diversity consciousness by examining the benefits acquired through the process.
Personal Growth
Students take particular courses based on various motivations and needs. Some of them pursue their courses of choice to fulfill dreams and aspirations while others aim at appreciating their quest for knowledge. The commencement and completion of this course were both motivating and enthusiastic. My dream to join this course was guided by the desire to acquire knowledge applicable to real-life situations.
The application of the skills learned in class to solve real-life problems is the fulfilled vision. The course has heightened my awareness of diversity and its importance. Indeed, the knowledge about diversity is an excellent tool that correlates with academic prowess, achieving self-esteem by sharing experiences, developing individual identity, and gaining inter-ethnic tolerance. The course has also led to the awareness that diversity can cause discomfort among peers where rough interactions are experienced.
This situation leads to the development of mistrust and conspiracy. Other uncomplimentary effects of diversity are interpersonal conflicts, lower levels of communication, and disrespect among peers. By pursuing this course, I have learned to diminish such hostile situations through dialogue and mutual respect. With the understanding that each person is talented with dissimilar abilities, I have found a synthesis of social diversity.
The learning process washes away and replaces our previous misconceptions with a quality understanding of diverse life spheres. Before enrolling in this course, my knowledge and understanding of diversity were skewed. I viewed it as an approach that infringed the differentiated cultures, values, and beliefs among other aspects people. However, I am now in a better position to spearhead the advancement of social diversity in the school.
The process of learning is continuous. For this reason, its effectiveness must be given room for self-development. Diversity consciousness demands a live spirit. By maintaining a proactive approach to appreciating the diverse groups in the school, there will be the creation of a sound learning environment that underpins the development of mutual respect amongst the teachers, students, and parents. Moreover, the structured lessons have fostered diversity consciousness amongst classmates as they acknowledge varied cultural perspectives. Personally, the course has helped me erode the misconceptions about the opinions of other students at school. The diversity class has also sharpened my skills in handling diversity issues.
Diversity Benefits
Various benefits accrue from the awareness of diversity. In light of the perspectives of each participant in my group, I have learned to appreciate the importance of diverse people in almost every aspect of life. At the outset, diversity is a crucial factor that has improved my creativity. A multicultural and multiethnic environment brings about a plethora of unique skills that originate from particular societal groups (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2008).
This state of affairs has led to the understanding of various problems such as racism that exist in human society. Many confrontational problems that occur in multicultural environments require us to make proper decisions each day. Early this year, I met two ethnically different students quarreling. The cause of disagreement was linked to their discomfort in class. With the skills gained through social diversity, I gained the courage to solve the problem amicably. Secondly, the value of diversity has underpinned the formulation of informed decisions. At one time, I was about to defer my studies to seize a job opportunity in a city restaurant.
However, sharing my problems with my group members encouraged me to make a sound decision continuing with the studies whilst seeking alternative solutions to the predicaments. This move led to innovation and the discovery of several ideas. At the beginning of the year, my science club was involved in a number of projects that aimed at encouraging innovation in the college (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2008). Having been an active member of the association, I was awarded a sponsorship to advance scientific innovation.
Diversity Communication
Cheng and Xie (2013) posit that communication is an imperative tool that fosters diversity awareness. Through communication, different issues are raised. This situation leads to the generation of diverse viewpoints that are shared amongst the students taking the course. Consultations are also accomplished either in writing or verbally through communication techniques. The primary role of passing information from one party to the other is promoting diversity by providing a platform to seek perspectives on issues that matter to all people. For instance, the mass media is used in the transmission of values (Cheng & Xie, 2013).
This practice explicates the theory of the socialization function that entails the methods in which individuals embrace the conduct and standards of a particular group. They portray different values, beliefs, and attitudes that characterize diverse societies. By watching, listening, and reading, people gain a lot of information about others. Therefore, the media provides role models whose virtuous behaviors should be observed and/or imitated.
Successful diversity consciousness requires the exemplification of effective communication by the leaders of any institution; hence, proper language should be used to overcome the barriers to the promotion of diverse settings. Next, in cases of disagreements, individuals should react friendly to avoid rough interactions that can kill the spirit of diversity. The two ways can improve communication between people thereby increasing productivity.
According to Cheng and Xie (2013), communication helps attain a consensus that is highly valued in diversity consciousness. There is a need to ensure a common language during the communication process to avert possible barriers to the passage of important information. In addition, proper channels need to be in place for the effective delivery of messages.
Diversity Goals
The chief goal of the action plan is to pledge allegiance to foster diversity awareness with a view of avoiding stigmatization of the minority groups in society. This practice will make their differences a part of the majority. This situation will encourage diversity tolerance (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2008). Another vital goal is to conduct a frequent evaluation of the diversity program, especially in the schools, to identify possible drawbacks and methods of mitigating them.
Diversity Action
Planning is a prerequisite to the success of any activity undertaken since it highlights the steps of achieving the layout goals and objectives (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2008). Therefore, realizing diversity awareness depends on the understanding of goals that guarantee a healthy environment. Diversity involves the interactions and contacts between people of dissimilar backgrounds. A social and psychological process should be put in place. The social process will enhance the interaction to offer a platform for self-assessment and discovery of strengths and weaknesses. On the other hand, the psychological process will prepare and help them diminish inter-ethnic tensions and anxiety; hence, it will promote knowledge (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2008).
Secondly, there is a need to engage inter-ethnic peers in constructive events that cut across both cultural and denominational divides. In so doing, new values will be acquired. In a school setup, healthy teacher-student interpersonal relationships can be aimed at achieving diversity by building quality bonds and reciprocated trust (Pianta, Hamre, & Stuhlman, 2003). Lastly, strengthening peer norms and networks to promote virtuous attitudes, sociability, and experiences will ease the prospects to know and learn from each other. Personally, gaining skills in decision-making, problem-solving, exposure, innovation, and teamwork will be great achievements.
Communities that host us will also get all-around leaders who view issues with global perspectives to provide valuable decisions. The benefits will be viewed from a global dimension. Innovation and discovery resulting from the interactions and contacts will provide solutions to global problems such as vaccines or cures for some diseases such as HIV/AIDS. The scenario that is exhibited during the construction of a house involves the cooperation of a structural engineer, architect, land surveyor, and construction managers among others (Pianta et al., 2003). This blending ensures a perfect completion of the building. If one of them is not consulted, the consequences become unfavorable.
The same spirit can be integrated into our social lives to yield the fruits of diversity. For the result to be realized, certain resources must be present to honor the pledges and commitments to diversity. In this spirit, I will be motivated to participate in community building activities to deliberate on issues affecting society with a view of formulating lasting solutions. Another valuable resource to help stick to my commitment is building standard networks with diverse people ranging from the rural to urban populaces, desert to island dwellers, moderates to radicals, and leaders to subjects in an attempt to encourage them to appreciate their experiences of diversity.
Conclusion
In summary, diversity of race, color, ethnicity, political affiliation, sexual orientation, and geographical locations provides make individuals unique. Mixing up such people brings about diversity that helps in the achievement of objectives not only in the school setting but also in the workplace among other social places. Enrolling in this course has taught me significant diversity values that will be useful throughout my life.
This paper has highlighted my personal developments and benefits that have resulted from learning diversity. Communication has been deemed paramount to achieving diversity goals. People should embrace social integration and advance the call for diversity in all spheres of life. Interracial marriages can also help bridge the gaps existing among varied communities to ease the ethnic pressures experienced in the present day.
Reference List
Cheng, S., & Xie, Y. (2013). Structural Effect of Size on Interracial Friendship. Proceedings of the National Academy of the USA, 110(18), 7165-7169.
Pettigrew, T., & Tropp, L. (2008). How does intergroup contact reduce prejudice? Meta-analytic tests of three Mediators. European Journal of Social Psychology, 38(6), 922-934.
Pianta, R., Hamre, B., & Stuhlman, M. (2003). Relationships between teachers and Children. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.