“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.”
Harvey Milk
What is diversity? To me, diversity is how we distinguish ourselves from others rather than how others distinguish us from one another. It took me many years to embrace who I am. As a first-generation college student from a small coastal town in Turkey, I always knew I was different in a place that did not have much room for ethnically and religiously diverse families.
My journey of self-discovery took a long time. I want my students to feel comfortable in my class and to see their differences as unique strengths rather than drawbacks. I want to create an inclusive environment where students feel they can bring their concerns to me. While teaching at the University of Hartford, one of my first actions as an instructor was to invite all my students to office hours so that I could ask them their preferred names and pronouns. Two students explained that they did not want to use their given names or pronouns. That experience taught me never to take such information as a given, and always to ask. Understanding these issues and giving students a chance to define themselves deepens their engagement with both the course and the instructor.
I have seen firsthand how important it is to create an environment where students from different backgrounds feel comfortable and confident that their views and opinions are respected and welcomed. I firmly believe that taking steps to build such an inclusive community is essential to ensuring that all students can reach their full potential, as Harvey Milk once said.
My own experiences, combined with my training, help me conduct a classroom with specific goals: giving everyone a voice, encouraging intellectual curiosity, and valuing the perspectives that diversity brings. Students face many obstacles; the last thing they need is to feel isolated or unwelcome. Beyond creating a supportive learning atmosphere, the promotion of diversity and inclusion also enriches intellectual diversity. This is increasingly essential in the contemporary political climate.
As a researcher working on bullying and inequality, I know that every step we take toward a more equal and inclusive society matters. One of my goals is to mentor students who need it. I want all my students to realize their full potential, and I want them to know one thing above all: just like my own journey, it gets better.
