Diversity is defined as; [being] composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities. Invariably, I am a heterogeneous woman with constituents of North American, Egyptian Arab, and West Indies. Though characteristic contributors in conjunction with my phenotype, these dimensions are merely facets of my divergence. Indeed, they make up my cultural background, but it is my life experiences, having had distinct elements, that have accommodated the shaping of my conglomerative outlook. Admittedly, I was not afforded the opportunities most have or have had when it comes to secondary and post secondary education. My mother, who recently met an untimely death, was uneducated and sold into marriage. My father, though literate, could not get past women learning how to read and write within the United States, and died via homicide. I taught my mother the alphabet and how to sign her name on pertinent documents at the tender age of seven. She fought to keep her illiteracy from surfacing, and when my father left permanently after a domestic altercation that left him with an amputated finger, her unlettered state came forth. Being born and raised destitute, and within the Arab philosophy, education was my secret outlet. I forged my mother’s signature in order to obtain a library card for books to read, and it did not cost a penny. Invariably, I was treated differently. My mother faced both verbal and illiterate disabilities that brought forth ridicule, maltreatment, and scorn. I filled in the applications (school, public assistance, etc.), and pointed to where my mother would sign when we had no choice but to seek government assistance to support seven children. I became an early adult who rationed with housing authorities and landlords when my mother could not make the rent despite working two full time jobs as a housekeeper within the hospitality industry. My name was used for credit so that my mother could keep the electricity and water operating in the winter in spite of my age; fourteen. When you have an ignorance filled familial background working against you, as well as the infamy mind of teachers, navigating the trends of higher education is difficult especially when my parents, who are my guides, have not the experience to direct me forward. You are stigmatized when you have both poor and uneducated parents. But what bothered me the most was the ignominy of low or lack thereof toward expectations. Of course, I was teased for being a ‘free lunch student,’having holes in my clothes, yet that did not compare to the treatment of expected failure. Bothersome was the evident surprise when I received my first 4.0 trophy in the 8th grade. The obloquy was clear when I forged my mother’s signature just so that I could join the advanced placement and honors classes in high school. It was evident the opprobrium when not a single teacher, counselor, or adult person referenced secondary education, and plans for advancing my academia. Despite these encounters working against me, I fought and continue to fight to gain experience and knowledge to prepare me for my ultimate goal of becoming a medical professional; Registered Nurse. My circumstances may very well be disparate from that of other potential cohorts, but, I maintain the attitude of only being as disabled as I allow myself to be. Growing up impecunious was quite a challenge of my youth; however, growing up without any expectations was a far bigger obstacle to overcome. There was no bar or challenge for me to tackle. I did not know the sky is not the limit until I challenged my self. Retrospectively, I learned to set my own expectations, to motivate myself, and conquered apathy of others. This has assisted in the success of my life’s dreams, and turning those dreams into reality. Most importantly, I learned not to judge a person by their position, but by their reaction to their
!

situations. My favorite author, the late Warren G. Bennis states, “The leaders I have met, whatever walk of life they were from, whatever institutions they were presiding over, always referred back to the same failure something that happened to them that was personally difficult, even traumatic, something that made them feel that desperate sense of hitting rock bottom-as something they thought was almost a necessity. It’s as if at that moment the iron entered their soul; that moment created the resilience that leaders need.” For me, those aspects that shaped who I am today were my distressed upbringing, contending with illiterate parents, and experiencing the death of both my mother. These life changing difficulties have shaped my perception of the world and continue to play the role of guidance to my successes. Nonetheless, my experiences may not have met the ideological circumstances, but it has taught me that an individual’s background, whether is be familial, cultural, or race, does not necessarily define a person. It is the actions that they take and the education that they seek, in spite of the negative events, that make us diverse. My success is not contingent upon my parents or my finances, where I lived or currently live, or the makeup of my genetics. Everyone is fighting a unique battle, and diversity is not a background, a culture, or identifiable race. Diversity is a sundry of experiences that mold us into who we are, therefore diversifying our lives. “Female of American, Egyptian, and West Indian origin; Other” does not do my identity justice. I am a world’s passbook, filled with a plethora of pages reflective of the places I have been and the places I have yet to go. I look forward to sharing and creating a diverse erudite environment.