Reflective Essay: How Race Has Changed My Life

Race is often seen as a barrier, some sort of mental wall that keeps people apart. As a white person attending a school where I was the minority, I began to see how little race mattered. When you are in a school with many cultures and races, you begin to stop seeing race as "us and them", but more of a "we" sort of thing. I have made friends that have come from all walks of life, which gave me gave me a better understanding of all kinds of people. For example, my one friend is a daughter of two doctors and lives in a mansion in the affluent part of the city. On the other hand, I have a friend who couldn't even afford to live in the city, she lived in the crime-ridden part of East Cleveland and commuted to my high school via bus. Her …show more content…
My two cornerstones being my parents and my faith. My mother and father are loving and caring role models that are the largest blessing in my life. My mother works long hours, clips coupons, scrimps, and saves for us to get by. However, she does not do it alone. My father is the hardest working man I've ever met, and his work ethic allows our family to thrive. Few men will work 60+ hours a week in their 60s, but I'm proud to say that my father is one of those men. My other beacon of aid is my church. I was born into a Roman Catholic family, and although my faith wavered more than once, I can call myself a devout Catholic. Although I accept and believe in my own faith, I am also knowledgeable in the other faiths in my community. The Greater Cleveland area is known for a vast array of religious places of worships. I have friends that are Jewish, Baptist, Jehovah's Witness, and Mormon. These friends of mine have shed light on topics that I'd never thought about and have broadened my horizons on the understanding of religion. In closing, the experiences of my life will hopefully allow me to help unify and understand the community at The Ohio State