Essay

Diversity stereotypically means people with different ethnicity. My definition of diversity has developed beyond ethnicity. Diversity is any way a group differs significantly from another group. Lifestyles, values, socioeconomic levels, sexual orientation, gender, age, level of education, and religions are all examples of diversity.

To answer how to make UT more diverse, I first consider why diversity is important and desired in the first place. I have first-hand experience living without diversity. I grew up living the reality of non-tolerant, non-diverse thinking every day. I am an economically disadvantaged young Turkmen woman from a male dominated country and aspire to be an engineer. This has been difficult because women from my country are not encouraged towards such careers and are typically not to be educated at the same level as men. I had to come to America to gain educational opportunity.

I ask myself how this manner of thinking has developed over time in my country. My country of Turkmenistan is not diverse in ethnicity or culture like the United States. There has never been great challenge to the manner of thinking. It is a country steeped in old traditions. My conclusion is that it is easy to fall into narrow mindsets when no challenge occurs.

Secondly, I apply the concept of diversity to the global population. Diversity ultimately promotes better achievement through more diverse input. Global solutions need diverse input from all affected by the problem.

Diversity is never enough by itself. Education is the key to making diversity work. UT Dallas and every other campus would find diversity important because they want to educate and open minds to consider multiple perspectives and in the process foster tolerant, effective future leaders. The goal becomes higher than making a diverse campus; the goal is learning to appreciate the accomplishment no matter what the source. If a great solution is rejected just because of the person who made it, then tolerance is not present. Exposure to diversity fosters tolerant thinking.

I will help UT Dallas to be a more diverse campus by interacting with as many different groups as I can. I have always been curious by nature and have already enjoyed being exposed to so many different cultures since coming to the United States. I came to this country with some cultural prejudicial thinking; however, after interacting with so many different types of individuals, I have found I have had a shift in my views.

I will share my culture with others. I am certain that UT does not have many Turkmen people enrolled. I want others to learn from me as I desire to learn from them. I know that this exposure will broaden my perspective.