What experiences have you had that might lead you to say that you are well-prepared for diversity? In what areas do you feel well-prepared?

Well, in the classroom I have very little, if any experience, with diversity. The class I volunteered with had an array of students all with very different backgrounds. But the maximum exposure I got with them was barely 15 hours. Now, that isn’t to say that I don’t believe I am well-prepared for diversity. On the contrary, I feel quite at ease when dealing with cultural diversity. See, currently I work for a bookstore in which we have clients come in from all over the world. Our location is optimal for coming in contact with many people from all walks of life. From South America, to Africa, to Europe, and occasionally Asia, dealing with cultural diversity is something I am faced with when I show up for work every day. I feel that I am well-prepared for diversity because I have learned to offer the best customer service possible when dealing with natives, non-natives, visitors from other countries, and even the disabled. Every day I work I come across someone whose background is severely different from mine. I make sure always to stay open-minded and respectful when dealing with cultural diversity. All cultures have their own set of norms, but there are unwritten rules that the human race abides by that transcend culture. If I come across a customer that does not speak English, but speaks Spanish instead, then I offer them customer service in Spanish. It really helps to be bilingual. If they speak another language I am not familiar with then I go slower to see if I can understand them, and they I. Sometimes, I am even able to find them someone who can speak their language. It’s all about establishing clear communication and being on the same page. And that is what I hope to bring to my class. Communication is very important, especially when we are all so diverse. I feel that communication is the area I am most well-prepared for, because I do it practically on a daily basis. Although, communication will obviously be different for everyone because of our backgrounds, that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. We are all capable of understanding one another, even if we don’t speak the same language, if we just take the time to truly listen and observe the other person communicating their message a mutual understanding will arise. The spoken word didn’t always exist. One can communicate volumes just by their body language. Remember the old adage “actions speak louder than words.”