War and Peace: An Analysis of Metafiction in the Post-Modern World

The diversity summit was an interesting experience in that it presents diversity as a topic that is not only nuanced, but multi-faceted. Prior to the retreat I had anticipated an event which would entail discussion primarily on political correctness and how to respond to and respect issues of diversity. Dr. Cullen managed to counteract my preconceived notions, stating that the increased focus on political correctness—the over analysis of the appropriate terminology—forces conversations to become less genuine. Many of Maura Cullen’s ideas culminated in a larger thesis: understanding diversity is important not only to avoid offensive language, but to enhance effective communication with others. In order to bridge this divide, it is necessary to become “diversity-smart,” understanding how a social-identity is formed and, furthermore, how to embrace it appropriately rather than ignore it.

Reflecting upon my expectations for the diversity summit, I realize that my anticipations in regard to the course were in a similar vein; I had expected the main area of focus to be the integration of a diverse student body into a residence hall community. While this is an important outcome of the course, I now understand that it cannot be achieved without an understanding of social-identity. The development of a social-identity, which I look forward to delving into further in the course, is likely the topic of conversation in the summit that made me most realize my naivety. While I had known previously that the human mind works categorically and schematically, I had not yet considered how this could be applied, or even in the normative sense, how it should be applied to social-identity. The most interesting example utilized by Dr. Cullen was the “...

... middle of paper ...

...tools to succeed, as Dr. Cullen stated, “equal is not always equitable.” Participating in the Diversity Summit, I have gained the knowledge that attempting to analyze and develop conclusions on social justice is not nearly as important as understanding the difference between intent and impact in everyday language. This knowledge, in combination with the deeper-understanding of socially constructed identities will not only allow me to become a leader through more efficient communication, but also through the enhanced ability to solve and avoid conflicts. The ability to lead corresponds directly with the level of fellowship and understanding in the community—resulting from the ability to communicate effectively—and I believe that my participation in the diversity summit has given me the knowledge and capabilities necessary to foster the development of that community.