Diversity

Last week Denise Williams guest lectured to the Hixson peer mentor class and Hixson student board about diversity. I've heard many lectures about diversity throughout my college years and time in the military, but I'd say her lecture was by far the most insightful and entertaining. The topic is interesting to me because every day in Ames we experience diversity in one way or another whether it be race, religion, political affiliation, socio-economic status, etc. Along with diversity can come preconceived stereotypes, some negative and some positive. Something I've never really thought about until this lecture is that not only negative but also positive stereotypes can hurt. How do individuals feel when they're labeled with what's considered a positive stereotype, and that person doesn't "live up" to that positive stereotype? In my mind that's equally if not more hurtful than a negative stereotype.

Despite our country progressing throughout previous decades to try and break down prejudiced feeling towards others with different backgrounds, stereotyping will still exist. With stereotyping still existing for the majority of us, because it's in our nature, what we need to do is try and keep an open mind about everyone until we've actually met that person and then truly evaluate the content of that person's character. This is exactly what I have done, and will continue to do for next fall as a peer mentor. We Hixsons are a special group, with a wealth of diversity and experiences, that's why we were selected to be in the position we are today as Christina Hixson's Hixson Scholars. 

Ethics

I'd first of all like to say Alex and Easton did a very nice job with their lesson on ethics. I liked how the questions we were asked to answer could directly be related to our future experience as Hixson peer mentors next year. The underlying message that I picked up from the lesson was where do we as Hixson peer mentors draw the line between being a peer mentor and being anything other for our students next fall. I think we of course need to be friendly, polite, encouraging, resourceful, available to be contacted outside of class. What relationships can we have with our students outside of the Hixson program? I don't think seeing a student once or twice outside of the Hixson setting would be a problem if it's for the right reasons and intentions, but I really don't think we should spend time with our students outside of class that would compromise the relationship between peer mentor and first year Hixson. 

      My advisor here at ISU gave my Ageds 310 some really good advice about high school education that I think would transfer over well to next year. If we meet with one of our students outside of class, it's always best to have at least a third person present, and what better person to have with you than your Hixson teaching partner, or another Hixson from the class if your partner isn't available. This way both we as Hixson peer mentors and our students are more comfortable with any situations that might require us to meet with our students outside of class.