Diversity, learning about others reveals true character
By Chelsea Hudson
Skiff Staff

Diversity is a direction towards understanding.

Where is the final destination? In the words of the great thinker Socrates, “Know thyself.”

Learning about others will inevitably reveal your innermost character. We all have different ideas, ways of thinking and individual characteristics that we bring to the table.

Be not afraid, have a sit and enjoy the feast and friends around you.

Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you? This has happened to me physically, but just this weekend it occurred internally.

I walked into a lavishly decorated ballroom, which was filled with a wide variety of people from all over Fort Worth, Texas, America and the world. The attire was anything short of breathtaking. Men and women walked with pride, many of them wearing traditional Indian dress. I was dressed in just the same manner, but I felt different.

It seemed like everyone there was drastically different than me. Our skin and hair tone were as different as day and night. I started to get really nervous. It was show time.
Students for Asian-Indian Cultural Awareness (SAICA) had invited me to participate in the “Experience India” fashion show. Walking out on stage the crowd cheered loudly.

But they weren’t cheering because of my outfit, it was because my being there was symbolically embracing their culture through wearing their traditional dress.

Sometimes being different is great as long as you appreciate the differences, rather than be frightened of what you don’t know.

Afterwards, while visiting with friends I received conflicting reports of intimacy.

My friends from SAICA told me, “Hugs in our country are given only to intimate friends, if you hugged me at first meeting, it would be considered more than just friendship.”

Then my friends from The Universidad de las Americas (UDLA) in Mexico said, “A hug and a kiss is the only natural way to introduce yourself in our country. It is hard to shake hands when what you really want to do is welcome someone with open arms and hug.”
Different people have different perceptions of human behavior. The Leadership Institute at the Amon Carter Museum this weekend was by far the best one in the past three years.

During dinner there, a thought hit me. In this very room, some of the most incredible community leaders of Fort Worth and across the nation are sharing their thoughts on leadership with today’s youth. An exchange of free-flowing and unique ideas was occurring. That too is diversity.

Diversity is about broadening your horizons and perceptions. It is not just about different skin color or nationalities. It all boils down to people and their experiences.

As stated in “The Art of Leadership” program, “Commit yourself to growth. Never stop learning about who you are and where you want to be.”

Chelsea Hudson is a junior political science major from Plano.
She can be contacted at (c.n.hudson@student.tcu.edu).

credits

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