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yes, another diversity essay thread. thanks in advance for your insight.
1. I was heavily involved in campus programming and event planning at my university, which meant I was a voice for thousands of students (think stu gov, kinda). I gained a lot of skills that I think most pre-med students don't have (for example, I managed several hundred thousand $ and contracted with performers). Mostly, though, I learned that I wasn't programming for just me. I was programming for the entire school. I realized this after a black student organization contacted me and told me that they didn't think I worked hard enough to include the whole student body. We began collaborating after that and I saw the types of students I was reaching change dramatically. This experience for me is less about the event planning itself and more about creating a community and then effectively serving that entire community. I now work in community medicine, so I think there's continuity there. I think my programming background is "cool" because I'm very passionate about it, but while I think the perspective I gained is important, it's probably not unique. Everyone knows they should care about others' needs when decision making. I think this will make me a good involved member of the incoming class, though!
2. I went to both high school and college in rural areas. I live in a greater metropolitan area, however, and almost all my volunteer work has been urban-based. So I think I've seen a fair variety in the human struggle. I knew a rural man who couldn't access his needed healthcare bc the closest specialized doctor was 2 hours away, and I had an urban client who was 5 minutes from her doctor but couldn't go because she couldn't afford bus fare. It's an interesting dichotomy, I guess. While I don't think this is a particularly "cool" thing about me, it might be an experience or perspective that not a lot of people have. I don't really know.
Anyway, I'm definitely leaning for 1 because I'm much more passionate about it and I think it's more representative of me. But when I try to explain why it makes me diverse, I'm afraid it sounds silly or falls flat. Are neither of these good options and I need to keep brainstorming?
1. I was heavily involved in campus programming and event planning at my university, which meant I was a voice for thousands of students (think stu gov, kinda). I gained a lot of skills that I think most pre-med students don't have (for example, I managed several hundred thousand $ and contracted with performers). Mostly, though, I learned that I wasn't programming for just me. I was programming for the entire school. I realized this after a black student organization contacted me and told me that they didn't think I worked hard enough to include the whole student body. We began collaborating after that and I saw the types of students I was reaching change dramatically. This experience for me is less about the event planning itself and more about creating a community and then effectively serving that entire community. I now work in community medicine, so I think there's continuity there. I think my programming background is "cool" because I'm very passionate about it, but while I think the perspective I gained is important, it's probably not unique. Everyone knows they should care about others' needs when decision making. I think this will make me a good involved member of the incoming class, though!
2. I went to both high school and college in rural areas. I live in a greater metropolitan area, however, and almost all my volunteer work has been urban-based. So I think I've seen a fair variety in the human struggle. I knew a rural man who couldn't access his needed healthcare bc the closest specialized doctor was 2 hours away, and I had an urban client who was 5 minutes from her doctor but couldn't go because she couldn't afford bus fare. It's an interesting dichotomy, I guess. While I don't think this is a particularly "cool" thing about me, it might be an experience or perspective that not a lot of people have. I don't really know.
Anyway, I'm definitely leaning for 1 because I'm much more passionate about it and I think it's more representative of me. But when I try to explain why it makes me diverse, I'm afraid it sounds silly or falls flat. Are neither of these good options and I need to keep brainstorming?
