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.