Diversity Starts with Inclusion Inside Out

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color” (Maya Angelou). I believe Maya Angelou is an incredible writer. It is no question she has a way with words that can clarify even the most powerful and hard to understand emotions. Inclusion and diversity seems like the most obvious moral values to understand. However, modern day society still struggles with creating an inclusive world for all no matter their differences. We are too busy pointing the finger instead of coming together to heal the wounds of the world. Diversity is when our differences in gender, age, race, economic background, sexual identity, disability, cultural, and religious rights bring us together in the spirit of inclusion. Ultimately, inclusion matters because it is a crucial step into our healing process. Diversity matters because it is the first step of self love for oneself, for others, and ultimately helps create a more inclusive world for everyone. 

Growing up, I was often the new kid at school. I remember fearing the first day of school because I felt there were not enough spaces for me to belong. The fear of being outside of the group was real. I felt like I was the only stranger in a crowd full of mutual friends. There were plenty of times where I sat alone during lunch without any friends. I remember being the only Korean kid at school. I remember strangers asking what my ethnicity was and when I answered Korean, they did not know what that meant. I was made fun of for being Korean or even more generalized, Asian. I was called everything from racial slurs to inappropriate insults all targeted at my ethnic heritage. It is obvious how that would make me feel different. As a child, I questioned why it hurt so much being different. As I reflect back on those times in my life, I realize racism teaches us to hate ourselves. It is internalized hatred. It teaches us to hate all the things in ourselves that make us different. It teaches us to hate all the things we cannot change about ourselves; all the qualities we are innately born with. Self-hatred is the opposite of inclusion because it forces us to not accept ourselves for who we are. Inclusion starts within one's relationship with oneself. It starts with self love when we do not fit the mold of what is acceptable in society. Once we learn to accept ourselves, then we can start contributing to a diverse culture where everyone can celebrate and accept each other. 

My very first job was when I worked as an English tutor at Fullerton College. My English professor recommended me for this position because he knew my story and saw potential in me. As a child, I never felt like the brightest kid in class. In between moving schools constantly and my anxiety issues, it was hard to concentrate in school. I felt like I had to work extra hard to achieve good grades in class. My professor understood this about me and thought I would have the compassion to help the other underdogs in the world. He was right. At the end of each semester, we had a 70% increase in the student class pass rate. My role as tutor gave me the opportunity to mentor students of all types of diverse backgrounds no matter their ethnicity, economic standing, gender identity, and grammar level. Education is about giving people the opportunity to realize their dreams. Education is about seeing potential in everyone and encouraging them to believe in themselves even more. Education thrives on diversity because it gives people the opportunity to learn from one another. Education needs to be a safe environment where everyone can feel invited to learn. Inclusion is a way to guarantee this safety.

During my employment at RSI, I met a memorable coworker who became like a surrogate father figure for me. I eventually referred to him as Uncle M. He was a charming, sweet, and genuinely kind man. Uncle M had the wittiest sense of humor. It was always a delight to read his emails because he wrote the funniest stories. Uncle M is an older man in his 60s. Uncle M is a wonderful father to two beautifully adopted children who are siblings. If you are unfamiliar with adoption, keeping siblings together is unfortunately rare because most siblings are split apart amongst different families due to the complicated nature of the adoption process. He was always proud of his children and demonstrated great compassion over them. Uncle M treated everyone with kindness. I never saw him act rude or impatient with anyone in the office. Uncle M is gay. Unfortunately, despite all of his wonderful qualities I mentioned, most of our mutual coworkers judged him solely because he was gay. Our coworkers kept him at a distance and rarely initiated conversations with him. I imagine because most of our coworkers were much older in age, they were born in an era where being gay was unthinkable. Where being gay was seen as a sin or an abnormality. Unfortunately, a large part of society still feels the same way. I believe Uncle M, myself and 2 other co-workers shared a small cluster of friendship because we shared the same vision of inclusivity. I, being only in my mid 20s at the time of meeting him, grew up during a time where the fight for the normalization of gay rights became more of an open topic. One dinner after work, Uncle M shared his story with me and a few other co-workers. His story revealed we had so much in common even though we were completely different in age, ethnicity, and social background. We both shared the same faith, carried a jovial sense of humor, and ultimately knew what it felt like to be an outsider. He wanted the same things any of us wanted in life. He wanted to be seen, loved, and accepted for who he was on the inside. When we realize we all want the same thing, that should bring us together.  I cherish the impact he made on my life because he treated me like I was his own daughter. I realized Uncle M and I practiced inclusion in our friendship. As a result, we created a beautiful ripple effect of diversity because although we were very different, we both understood how it felt to be excluded.

I grew up with my mother who had a hearing disability.  Most of the time, hearing out of her right ear is difficult. As a result, most of my household speaks loudly so she can hear clearly. Due to my mother’s hearing, I have been extra conscious of the way society treats those with disabilities. The world is harsh to those with disabilities. Some examples are difficult terrain for those with wheelchairs, or overstimulating environments for those who are neuro divergent. It is important to create inclusive environments whether it be physical, emotional, or mental spaces. Some disabilities are invisible and are not as obvious at first impression. It could even be a mental illness hidden underneath the seemingly 'perfect' exterior. My grandmother had a mental illness most of her life. From the outside, my grandma looked confident and strong. However, she suffered from extreme PTSD on the inside. These invisible illnesses were due to the terrors of the Korean War. Growing up, I remember she would wake up in fear in the middle of the night due to a haunting nightmare about the Korean War. Every time I think about inclusion and diversity, I always think about my mother and grandmother. They are the reason why I fight for a better world. They fuel my fight for inclusion and diversity because I know my family is not the only family who had to struggle with feeling like an outsider in a foreign land.

At Girl Scouts of Orange County, my team's main priority was to make the organization more accessible to girls of all backgrounds, especially young girls who were interested but did not know the organization was open to them. As a crucial member of the DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) team, we worked on projects that would help include girls of all backgrounds. This meant  highlighting Girl Scouts in the disability community by providing services that make their participation more accessible. For example, we would take initiatives to hire a sign language translator to help our deaf Girl Scouts enjoy the events more or make sure the terrain is stable enough for our Girl Scouts to travel safely in wheelchairs. Also, we worked with our multicultural Girl Scouts by collaborating on diversity projects together. For example, this meant reaching out to our Korean Girl Scouts and collaborating on projects where they can showcase their cultural customs through dances or foods. Moreso, this meant providing second language services to the Girl Scouts who were interested but were hesitant because English was not their first language. Not only did we provide services to Girl Scouts outside the organization, we made sure to spread the message of inclusion and diversity within the organization amongst the employees. We often teamed up with the HR department to plan inclusive events that celebrated different multicultural months such as Black history month, Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander month, Disability pride month, Hispanic heritage month, Native American heritage Month and more. During these months, we planned different activities for our employees to celebrate their heritage. Whether it be themed potlucks, informative presentations, educational activities, or opportunities for employees to share their personal stories in relation to what diversity means to them, we continued to prioritize the message of diversity. It was inspiring to see communities come together to discover and learn from each other. Diversity teaches us to appreciate one another's differences in rich celebration.

 Inclusion was forcibly woven out of the fabric of human civilization since the beginning of time. History shows the capitalistic idea of taking resources in fear that there is not enough for everyone at the table. It promotes the false idea where there is only enough for 1% to be at the top while the rest of the 99% suffers. Whether this model is proven through the tragic slave trade, exclusion of the native americans, and literally every royal monarch, it is proven as a regurgitated pattern. This macro concept translates to the micro as shown within school settings, workplace politics, and even family dynamics. In the modern era, there is an anti hate group for nearly everything such as LGBTQ+, Asians, African Americans, Jewish, Muslims, and it seems the list never ends; diversity matters even more. It is not a coincidence that those most affected are those who identify as people of color, lower in economic standing, and belong within the LGBTQ+ community. There is enough room at the table for everyone. Where everyone’s differences are celebrated and seen for exactly who they are. Inclusion is where differences amongst people can belong in healthy harmony. It is not where people discard what makes them different so they can blend in with the collective group. Diversity is about creating inclusive spaces for those who feel like outcasts or outsiders so they may feel empowered to create more inclusive communities. The conversation about diversity cannot thrive without understanding the important need for inclusion. Through the power of diversity, we can find opportunities to celebrate one another. Diversity is truly like a beautiful fabric that weaves together people of different backgrounds into one inclusive tapestry. Diversity and inclusion is my personal mission. No one deserves to feel like they don’t belong in this world.  Everyone deserves to be loved and seen for exactly who they are inside. Everyone is born with purpose.