By Mira Hinton
I am a student completing an Associates of Applied Science Degree for Medical Assistants at PPCC. I was born in Korea and grew up there until I turned 26-years-old. Since Korea is a nation-state, I had no clue of what diversity was all about. However, since my arrival in the U.S., I have been confronted with several issues involving diversity.
One issue involves the diversity of language. Although English is an international language, it was difficult for me to translate certain adverbs and adjectives into their proper places. Furthermore, so many different languages such as Spanish in the U.S. add to my confusion. Ethnic diversity is another area that I feel is remarkable. While not as easy to describe, it is something we are all familiar with. For instance, PPCC, we have a vast amount of different ethnic backgrounds-- Hispanic , Asian, Caucasian, African-American and many others. Having grown up in an Asian culture, the Western people’s culture was new to me and took awhile to understand. Even our cultures are totally different; for example, in Korea, we show respect by bowing, but in the U.S., people show open affection when they greet each other. People say that America is a “melting pot,” yet I think America as a “mosaic.” Although there is great diversity of language, ethnic, and culture, the America people use their differences to enrich not only their lives but also others. I would like very much to be a part of this.
How has encountering diversity enriched my life? Since coming to America, I have been accepted as a part of the community, I’ve been given a chance to get an education, and fulfill my dreams. While I am getting educated, I meet people with different languages, ethnic backgrounds, and cultures. This opened my mind, and made me able to think world wide. Moreover, in Asian culture, most women depend on men. Two years ago, I became a single mother of a 2-year-old child. Most Koreans discouraged me; this was a result of our cultural upbringing, but due to the American influence, I am now in school and gaining my independence. After I finish my Medical Assistant course at PPCC, I can work as a Medical Assistant at a hospital, a clinic, or a hospice. I hope to continue to grow and perhaps eventually achieve my Master’s degree in Healthcare Management. When I become a healthcare manager, I would like to improve the quality of health care for those who don’t have healthcare benefits due to low income. I also would like to volunteer at the clinic for homeless people, using my laboratory and clinical experience. Furthermore, I want to become a part of this blended society and by sharing my culture, I can enrich this mosaic culture that we all call America.
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