What Diversity Means to You Reflection Paper

 

Reflection – What Diversity Means to You

Format:

12-point font, Times New Roman

Double-space

Typed in Microsoft Word (do not use pages, Google formats, etc.)

2-3 pages length

Title page (in APA format)

Use APA format to cite any sources

Directions:

As discussed in class, you are the expert of your own experience. Students are highly encouraged to share about their experience, share their thoughts and insights about the discussion topics, and ask questions. Beyond the in-class discussions, this assignment asks students to further reflect on their experiences via a written format. This is a reflection, there is not a right or wrong response, and this is NOT a research paper. What I am looking for in this reflection paper is:

depth of analysis and reflection

a willingness to take risks in self-disclosure (assess your own level of comfort)

your ability to connect your awareness of yourself with the issues raised in class (with readings, videos, and other content) and with experiences you are having outside of class (family, friends, campus, KC, your hometown, etc.).

Listed below are a number of questions and issues for you to consider in this reflection paper. You may choose to answer as many as you like, in whatever order you wish. If there are other items you would like to discuss related to these questions, please feel free to do so.

Questions to use as a guide in this first reflection paper:

Who are you?

What does diversity mean to you?

Describe descriptors you identify, for example – race, ethnic heritage, national origin, language, gender identity, and so forth.

Are you clear about your ethnic/racial identity? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Who (or what) are the most significant influences in the establishment of the descriptors of your identity?

What experiences have you had with people who you perceive as different to you?

As a child, did you have friends who were of a different background to you (consider the descriptors you listed)? Either way (i.e. if your answer was yes or no) how has this influenced the ways in which you view and have interacted with people from other backgrounds as you have grown up?

How were people of different cultures viewed in your family? How were they treated?

As you were growing up, what messages did you get about people who were “different” from you?

What feelings did you experience when writing this paper?

Why do you think it is important for healthcare students to take a Diversity in Health course?

What else would you like to add to your reflections here about what diversity means to you?