I Come From Ignorance

I come from ignorance. Loathe as I am to admit it, this is the undeniable truth. My family, from either a lack of education or inadequate exposure to diversity, largely uphold the stereotypes regarding East Texans. I, being considerably different from them ideologically, can admit that conservatism has merit, but my family frequently crosses the line from a little old fashioned to blatantly bigoted; I’ve heard an aunt complain about the “niggers” moving into her neighborhood and my cousin, at only ten years old, wanted to join the military for the sole purpose of “getting back at Muslims”. I love my family unquestioningly, but, for these and a myriad of other reasons, I hope to learn from their beliefs rather than assimilate them; witnessing firsthand how intolerance can tarnish lives has instilled in me the …show more content…
An understanding of various peoples and cultures is, to me, essential in preventing ethnocentrism from running rampant in our society. My two greatest passions are history and philosophy, which I feel are ideal areas of study for achieving my goal; both have taught me that nothing is certain- everything we hold to be true is purely subjective. Studying these disciplines over the years, as well as many others, such as sociology, which first taught me the concept of cultural relativism, has been critical in both my endeavor to broaden my appreciation for diversity and the development of my own identity and morals. I am eager to participate in classes with narrower curriculums, like a class specifically dedicated to multicultural studies, professors who are passionate about the subjects they teach, and students who have a genuine interest in learning. These things will most definitely help to enhance both my academic career and my intention to become a more worldly