Multi-Ethnicity Personal Statement

As a multi-ethnic woman of color, both my personal and professional life has been spent working with diverse populations. I was raised in New York, surrounded by an array of people from all walks of life. I went to school, lived, and worked in various communities (New York, Texas, Maryland, Oregon) surrounding myself with multi-ethnic, multi-language individuals. I am a Colombian, Puerto-Rican, Cuban-American woman who was raised in a predominately African-American community. I started my career volunteering and working within racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods with thriving immigrant populations in the Cypress Hills, East New York, and Brownsville sections of Brooklyn, NY. My experience is diversified as I have spent time working with
There is no way I can possibly know and learn everything about the complexity of diverse racial, ethnic, gender identities, sexual identities, mental and physical abilities, languages, classes, ages, religious/spiritual beliefs, and socioeconomic backgrounds. I believe being effective, open and honest, eager to learn and accepting is key. My openness to learning, introspection, exploration of personal beliefs, and values allows me to maintain a state of multicultural humility. I am a firm advocate and believer in addressing historical experiences and the clinical implications of oppression, differential privileges, identities and access to resources, support and care. I am constantly working to explore my own multiple intersecting identities and grow awareness of my own personal and professional values, attitudes, and behaviors. My ideal internship will continue to train and provide me with additional tools to continue to address multicultural/diversity issues to provide the best patient