Exploring Your Identity While Understanding Diversity and Inclusion in College

When you step out of high school and enter college, your surroundings suddenly change. The more you take in the new world around you, the more likely you are to feel challenged about your identity. But what is your identity, and why is being aware of it important? 

Your identity is a collective measure of who you are in terms of your perspectives, beliefs, moral codes, personality traits, abilities, likes, dislikes, and many more such characteristics that make you—You. 

So, when you set foot in an environment that is full of diversity, you might feel a rush of preconceived notions about certain groups of people, form judgments based on biases you have been brought up with, and feel the compulsion to act a certain way, either positively or negatively. 

This is where comes the chance to shape your identity with conscious modeling of your brain and persona and challenge your older self to develop into this wholesome individual that respects and includes all individuals irrespective of the differences.

So, while you are exploring your identity and grasping the concepts of diversity and inclusion in college, some of the following suggestions may help. Meanwhile, you can opt for a professional paper writing service to pay for essay writing and manage assignment deadlines. 

Make an Effort for Self-Reflection

Introspection is essential to develop a sense of self. Your individuality is the core of who you are. And you can always define it. Think about your current situation and existing traits. You can reflect on these personal insights:

• How do you respond when someone provokes you while you’re feeling angry, uncomfortable, frustrated, or upset?
• Do your decisions tend to be influenced by others’ expectations, or are they primarily based on your own judgment and preference?
• Do you often agree to things primarily to appease others?
• Can you identify your personal strengths and weaknesses? Are there any strengths you aspire to develop?
• How would you describe your current self, and how does it compare to the ideal version of yourself you strive to become?
• What brings you joy, and conversely, what irritates or upsets you?
• Do you actively dedicate time and effort towards activities that bring you happiness and a sense of fulfillment?
• Are there any aspects of your character or personality that you perceive as negative?
• Could you list your fundamental values or principles that guide your life?

When you are self-aware, it becomes easier to figure out what identity you want to adopt. The list will also help you analyze the negative aspects of your personality. You can then make conscious efforts to improve them. 

Alongside, you can read about several contemporary issues and form an opinion. How you feel about certain topics, issues, and occurrences around the world also becomes a part of who you are. Try to read some popular movie and book reviews to gather perspectives, just like you read writing service reviews before hiring one. 

Recognize Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a concept that determines how a person’s various personality traits, social, political, professional, and personal identities and experiences contribute to the prejudices they face in life. It is a comprehensive framework that allows you to see beyond a person’s visible state to understand where they are coming from. This understanding would allow you to be more inclusive. Some of the broader aspects you can look out for are:

• Religious identity and affiliation;
• Personal beliefs and ideologies;
• Socioeconomic status;
• Race and ethnicity;
• Gender alignment;
• Sexual orientation;
• Immigration status.

You can try to seek out more resources to educate yourself on diversity. You can also try to read history, relevant books, and articles and watch documentaries to develop a better perspective on diversity and inclusion.

Furthermore, on accounts where you interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds, try to be more empathetic and polite. Treat them just like you would treat someone from backgrounds similar to yours. 

Furthermore, try to make friends with varied personalities, support diversity, and speak out against injustice and discrimination, especially in your vicinity. 

Challenge Stereotypes and Prejudices

One of the major aspects that contribute to your individuality is prejudice. The fact that most of us are molded to believe certain myths and have deep-rooted, preconceived notions about people who are different from us makes us less embracive and more judgemental. This is not only detrimental to society as a whole but also obstructive to your own growth. 

Think as a reasonable citizen of the world and analyze whether the stereotype you associate with a certain group of people is worth jeopardizing your sense of self. Take a step back when you are about to form an opinion about a person based on these prejudices and think beyond that. 

According to the best research paper writing services, once you start challenging your biases, you will become more inclusive and humane.

Final Thoughts

Breaking free from an encapsulated personality is the best thing you can do when you are in college. Students, who make conscious efforts to find their sense of self and become compassionate human beings, prove to be assets for society, workplaces, and their surroundings. However, students who limit their viewpoints and let their prejudice win find it difficult to adjust to diversity, such as at their workplaces.