Course Reflection

I have to honestly say, I enjoyed this course a lot more than I thought I would have. I somewhat dreaded taking this course at first because I felt that it was an unnecessary requirement to apply for the Radiology program. At first I did not understand why taking this course would apply to my future in becoming a radiographer but after taking this course, I feel that it was very beneficial for my future. Learning more about cultural diversity and technology was very interesting. Working in a medical office, I interact with a number of different people that are of different ages and different cultures. I do not feel that it has changed my way of communication yet, but it makes me more aware and has helped me to understand some of the things I have encountered in my past. I use to work customer service in the retail industry and it wasn't until reading, "Diversity Consciousness," that I realized that I was slightly on cultural cruise control. I use to get upset when Jewish individuals would come to get checked out and would put their money on the counter to pay for their items. I use to get pissed off and feel that they were being extremely disrespectful not understanding that it was part of their culture. I was to busy acting as if my values, beliefs, and experiences are universal. I now realize that I have to continue to unlock that cruise control, as well as so many others. It's not fair for people in America to feel that because people from other countries come to live here, they should Americanize themselves. What is it to be an American actually? America is made of a diversity of people and it continues to get more diverse each day. So with the projections of 2050, of America becoming an even more diverse society, how can anyone say that if they come to America then they need to act like Americans. So I can definitely say that this course has opened my eyes to a variety of different things and has made me more educated on the subject. When I interact with individuals I do find myself more aware of my interaction so that I may not offend anyone, because I myself prefer to not be offended. I also find myself now correcting and educating other individuals to their interactions so that they will not continue with ignorance. I feel to continue to let ourselves and others walk around in ignorance is a great unjust. I can honestly say that course has not challenged my views but has educated me a great deal and has helped me to take my blinders off. I no longer try to gravitate to those that are like me but try to have more diverse relationships. When you gravitate to those that are only like you, have the same cultural background, share the same religious beliefs, the same family structure, you close yourself off to having limitations, to knowing only of a small group of people. But when you open yourself up and interact with a more diverse group, you learn so much, you realize that while you may have had your perceptions of this group, your perceptions were wrong and that your cultures do share similarities. Even when there are differences among the different groups, it sometimes these differences that make the interaction, the friendship, the relationship, worth having. For my future, I continue to want to develop relationships with individuals of different cultures because it will make me a more knowledgeable and more well rounded person. I also hope for the same for my children because as they grow, the world will continue to grow in diversity and this will impact their future within employment, education, relationships, and so much more a great deal. I have to say that I really enjoyed this course and I am very glad and appreciative that it was a requirement so that I could gain the new knowledge that I have.