Diversity: 3 Perspectives

“It’s hard to say where I am from but the place that I care about the most and know the best and appreciate the most is Hong Kong, since I've lived there for the longest. But I moved around a lot growing up. I started in London, then went to New York, then Tokyo, and then Beijing, and then Hong Kong, and then Paris, and then here. So, you know, I got a lot of different cultures and experiences. “ - C

“I was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. I've lived in Massachusetts until 2019 when my family moved to Vermont, and that's where I've stayed. So my background is entirely in New England. “- S

“ I was born and raised in Texas and my parents were born in Mexico. So I am first generation American. "- A

“The posters around my bed are definitely influenced by Asia. There are a lot of semi famous Asian paintings, they remind me of the art that I grew up looking at. My room has that Asian and French charm. But for the most part, it is Asia, and I think that's kind of charming. I have had an experience with a weird mix of cultures and you can see that by looking at my room. “- C

“Growing up my family and I would all go to Cape Cod together over the summer, and it was special when we collected shells as a family and just played on the beach together. I remember doing that since I was very little. My parents know much more about shells and about than I do, so they taught me about them. The flannel I'm wearing is from my dad. My dad wore a lot of flannels, and each one he had, my mom, my sister and I would usually borrow for long periods of time. But he decided to give them to me, which I felt was very special, because I know my mom and my sister also like them. But I got them, I got a collection of his flannels that mean a lot to me. “- S

“I was baptized as a catholic. The area I grew up in is very religious. There were like, three churches within a few blocks of my house, all different types. There's a wall in my house that's just full of a lot of crosses and crucifixes and Bible verses. So religion is very deeply ingrained in everything.. So, my cross that I wear is like a representing piece, because, you know, many Mexicans, and pretty sure, also, like other Hispanics, are very religious and close to their religion, usually Catholicism. And, you know, I am Catholic, and Mexican. So, you know, that kind of like goes hand in hand. “- A

“Growing up in east asia like China, Tokyo, and Korea, I learned that pale white skin was very much a beauty standard. The problem is, I look so different from any Asian person.And yes, I do have the fairly pale skin, but I don’t think it aided me that much much. Let it be known. I do not believe that pale skin makes you better. “- C

“Growing up mixed there would be times when I was the only person of color in the classroom, and that can feel isolating. But sometimes, when you see that one other person that's like you, you can connect with that person, even if you don't have as much in common with them, other than the things that separate you from everyone else in the room. But I wouldn't say I face a lot of hardships due to race. You know, I have light skin, and not everyone has been great, but certainly I know that others have struggled more than me, especially in Vermont. “ - S

“I can't think of growing up hispanic in Texas as anything too different or special compared to like anything else because the area I grew up in was 91% hispanic. There wasn't a disconnect between me and the people there, since the majority of them were also Mexican and I didn’t feel isolated at all. “ - A

“I don't think race really matters that much when it comes to any type of relationship. Maybe, depending on, like, the cultures someone is raised in, they're gonna have to maybe, try and assimilate if they're in a different area,and that goes for like, any kind of areas. So it would just like, take effort for people to, like, be nice to each other and not hate each other. But I don't usually think about race when it comes to my friendships. “ - A

“Despite having different backgrounds from someone, you can still connect with each other a lot through personality and interests being aligned. Connecting with each other on a human level is not fully about race, gender, sexuality, it's about, you know, just who you are as a person and what you like. Overall unity is about empathy and listening to each other, and I think that's very much possible, even if you're two completely different people. It's just about putting in the work and the time. “ - S

Writing