Culture Throughout My Life

Response to Elders

• Growing up, I was taught that anyone older than you is to be respected and referred to as "ma'am" or "sir". They are wise with their words because they are knowledgable in all they have experienced.
• I still hold elders to a high value, and listen to all they have to say because their life experiences can teach us important lessons.
• This picture is of my grandparents who I hold near and dear to my heart. They have taught me much about the world and how to live a life full of love and happiness.

Importance of Family

• Family has always played a major role in my life. When a family member needs you, you drop everything and step in to help. No matter what has been said or done, everything can be forgiven because they are all you have. Time with family is valued and important which is why all holidays are spent with them.
• I have come to love spending time with my family and appreciate all of the memories and traditions we have.
• This is a picture of my parents and I celebrating a holiday together. They have made a huge impact on my life and sacrificed many things to support me.

The Church

• I grew up in a Methodist church and was taught that everyone is born their correct gender. According to the bible, the correct sexual orientation is straight because God made man and woman to be together. Much of my identity growing up was rooted in Christianty and the church. It shaped my behavior and morals.
• After being exposed to many different individuals and beliefs post high school graduation, I now believe gender and sexual orientation can be fluid and there is nothing wrong with that.
• I chose this picture to represent the church I grew up in. I still identify with Christianity, but have expanded my views in order to be more inclusive.

Conflict

• Any type of conflict or problem was not talked about growing up. We were expected to handle it oursleves and hide our emotions so they would not bother anyone else.
• Ironically, I am now pursuing a master's in school counseling because of how important I believe counseling is to overcoming conflict and handling our emotions through coping mechanisms.
• I chose this image to represent myself struggling to come to terms with my emotions and how to handle conflict without talking about it. It can be frustrating and can take a toll on your mental health.

Affection

• I grew up being taught that showing affection is not needed and can make other people around feel uncomfortable. It should remain private. A quick hug as a welcome or goodbye is sufficient enough.
• It is still difficult for me to show affection which has hurt previous relationships I have been in because some people associate affection with love.
• I chose this image because it displays myself with a good friend sitting close to me. Although I am smiling, I felt awkward sitting this close to her for the picture because it seemed too affectionate.

Verbal & Nonverbal Communication

• When speaking with someone, my dad instilled in me that it is proper to look them in the eye, and speak in a polite tone. It is also important to have good posture when speaking with someone. He always believed that presenting yourself in this way is vital to making a good impression.
• To this day, I am hyper aware about the way I speak with others and my tone of voice and posture. I want to always present my best self.
• I chose this image as the background because it is a picture of my dad and I. We were attending a KU football game, and a lot of introductions were made this day. All of the verbal and nonverbal communication he taught me came into play this day.

Homelife

• I grew up in a suburb of Dallas, Texas named Plano, Texas in a predominantly middle class white neighborhood. Although I was not exposed to a plethora of culture or varying experiences there, I did witness how hard my parents worked to achieve a middle class status.
• My parents demonstrated to me how hard work can pay off. They could not always participate in activities and vacations their friends could, but they were able to afford a house with a pool and club volleyball for me. Their dedication to provide a safe and loving home life for me is something I will always be grateful for.
• I chose this picture because it is of a police vehicle in Plano which you see everywhere throughout the town. Hence, why Plano is considered one of the safest cities to live in.

Acts of Service

• In my family, we do our best to serve each other as well as other individuals in our lives. Anything we can do to help or make things easier, we do with little hesitation. This is the way we show how much we care for one another. I have extended this into all of my relationships and friendships because it brings me joy and makes people in my life happy.
• I chose this image which states "Do Something Great" because it is a reminder that doing something is better than doing nothing. People typically appreciate you trying to help even if it does not always work out perfectly.

Space

• Although family is important, we also value personal space. The closest extended family member lives six hours away. Even at family gatherings, we maintain a physical distance from one another.
• I still enjoy my personal space. To an extent, I may enjoy it too much because I can get uncomfortable when people stand or sit too close to me.
• I chose this image because all of the individuals in it are minding their own business and not standing too close to one another, which is how I like it.

Education

• Both of my parents graduated from college and I knew from a young age that I would attend college. Grades were important growing up and report card days were huge in my household. Now, I am a teacher and working on my master's degree. Education has and always will be of value for me. I believe the knowledge you gain and people you meet help you grow and develop as a person.
• I chose this background because it is of Allen Fieldhouse which is a staple at KU. This is where basketball games are played, and some of my fondest memories from college are from the fieldhouse.

I intend to learn more about other cultures, experience them, and find an appreciation and understanding of them through this class and in the future.