Diversity: A Personal Analysis

The land of caviar, communism and vodka. The largest country on earth. A country so large that the north is constantly covered in a blanket of white powder while the south is more reminiscent of Venice Beach. A country that straddles both Europe and Asia. Russia is a land of extremes, a land of contrast, and those who hail from it are no exception. Growing up in a Russian family provides me a unique perspective on diversity, culture, and identity. I look no different than most of my peers. My chestnut hair, emerald eyes and porcelain complexion make me far from a poster child of diversity. But diversity is not skin deep. Diversity is language, religion, heritage; understanding a multitude of worlds in an ever growing global society. It is an important trait in schools and workplaces because it allows people from various backgrounds and cultures to share unique perspectives. Learning from my mother and video chatting with my grandparents, who live in Moscow, helps me form and cultivate opinions that are much different than my peers. When I think about the issues affecting the world, like natural disasters, poverty, and violence, I think beyond Dublin, Ohio and the United States. My diversity gives me a
This experience taught me the origins of my culture and personality. At mealtime my grandmother would place huge amounts of various foods on the table. She told me I was too “худая” or “skinny” and encouraged me to eat more. Here in the United States being thin is considered normal while in Russia skinny people are a reminder of the malnourishment many faced under communist rule. Food symbolizes the present in a way that refuses to forget the past. I’ve always had more than enough, but my grandparents and mom know the feeling of barren shelves, stale produce, and going to bed hungry. My grandmother wanted us to eat as much food as we could as if we were making up for lost