My commitment to acknowledging and celebrating difference has been challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, but I have found that it has deeply enriched my personal and professional life. I believe that creating an inclusive community is not only necessary to a functioning academic and professional environment, but is essential to any just mission. Overall, I have a sincere commitment to pluralism and I possess strong intercultural competencies, as shown though my personal background, academic commitments, and my prior volunteer and professional experiences.
As a queer, first generation college graduate and an advocate of feminism, I believe that opening up the academic world to greater inclusivity and diverse voices is paramount. For example, although I earned high marks, I felt isolated during my first year as an undergraduate student at Gonzaga …show more content…
I earned a 70-hour Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate from Gonzaga’s TESL program, and I also participated in the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) survey. This survey evaluates intercultural competency and it determined that my perspectives are classified as an Intercultural Mindset rather than a Monoculture Mindset. I also volunteered with a program called Global Conversations which helped international students at Gonzaga improve their spoken language skills. My time with these international students revealed the culturally specific aspects of my communication style. I had no idea how confusing my idioms and pop culture references could be, and this dramatically influenced my interpersonal communication style. In order to communicate effectively, I needed to adjust the pace in which I spoke and to express ideas without relying on culturally specific comparisons and assumptions. Through this experience, I learned to adapt the way I communicate with what is most appropriate for my
As a queer, first generation college graduate and an advocate of feminism, I believe that opening up the academic world to greater inclusivity and diverse voices is paramount. For example, although I earned high marks, I felt isolated during my first year as an undergraduate student at Gonzaga …show more content…
I earned a 70-hour Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate from Gonzaga’s TESL program, and I also participated in the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) survey. This survey evaluates intercultural competency and it determined that my perspectives are classified as an Intercultural Mindset rather than a Monoculture Mindset. I also volunteered with a program called Global Conversations which helped international students at Gonzaga improve their spoken language skills. My time with these international students revealed the culturally specific aspects of my communication style. I had no idea how confusing my idioms and pop culture references could be, and this dramatically influenced my interpersonal communication style. In order to communicate effectively, I needed to adjust the pace in which I spoke and to express ideas without relying on culturally specific comparisons and assumptions. Through this experience, I learned to adapt the way I communicate with what is most appropriate for my