Diversity Reflection

Fortunately, residing in a world where there is a substantial amount of diversity has been an enrichment for our learning resources. Each individual exhibits their own personal characteristics which makes the educational setting so unique. My motivation to learn, to succeed, and stimulate others to exceed has helped strengthen the learning environment of my peers. Since I have been pursuing my higher level of education many of the classes have required case-based, team sharing and pair-share instruction. These were all new approaches for me since I was accustomed to the traditional classroom setting: sit at a desk and the teacher is in complete control of the learning environment. They have given me the foundation to my leadership skills that
developed overtime amongst my peers, and being trustworthy was a key component to being a leader. It provided me the ultimate responsibility to lead by example and the ultimate power to motivate peers to be successful. Peer interaction has boosted my self-confidence, now I can confidently stand at the front of a classroom and speak to peers without my shyness interfering.
It also has given me the opportunity to exchange strengths and weaknesses with peers and ultimately, we are able to fortify one another. Perfect example is that I was having difficulty comprehending what the professor was conveying in lecture one day. Not wanting to delay lecture for everyone else, I remained silent and looked over to my classmate on my right-hand side and relayed a confused gesture seeking help. After lecture, my classmate helped me understand what I was not digesting in lecture. There are times that we are able to grasp the information better when it is delivered from our peers. It is not only about the professor projecting the lesson to the class but more about working together as a team to accomplish a common goal. I have gained an ample amount from many of my peers along my educational journey. For instance, from becoming an attentive listener, learning how to communicate more efficiently, collaborating and thinking critically. I still have the capacity of learning more from peers to help fill my knowledge base. That being said, I will distribute my talents and what I have learned in my past educational experiences with future peers and, perhaps, benefit what they have to offer as well. More importantly, together our contributions will aid in diversifying dental
school.