Reflective Essay: The Stereotypes Of Minority Groups

Imagine waking up one day as someone of a minority group. How would your views on them change? This concept was something that I wanted to personally understand because I was born into a minority group. Being a minority meant working hard to negate what society would think about us and the stereotypes that have labeled us. A minority group meant having to learn a completely new language and to adhere to America’s cultures. Since my family immigrated to America from a different country, they had to prove that they were Americans who were willing to contribute to the nation through working hard, displaying eagerness to learn, and applying these characteristics to their jobs and their lives. Therefore, these characteristics that my family had to develop is something that has influenced my life, from my birth till my death.

Growing up in a household that didn’t speak fluent English hindered my ability to start learning at home before heading into elementary school. It later obstructed my ability to communicate with teachers and students whenever I needed help or when being anti-social for such a long time made me dread school every day just because

of a language barrier. When I started preschool, I was eager to learn English so I wouldn’t have to be stuck in ESL when I moved onto the first grade. But most importantly, communication was vital for me. Since there was a language barrier between all the students in my grade, I had to resort to being utterly silent and playing charades with them every day. I couldn’t tell my teacher that my most prized bracelet cracked on the playground because I didn’t know how to say one word, let alone a sentence. However, I wanted to change that. I always felt like others avoided me because I couldn’t interact with them. I knew at that time that I would start developing a habit of working hard because my family successfully applied that characteristic to their lives and my determination to change something that could be learned
through practice and simply hard work.

This world that I was instilled with has been an influence to what I want to be.

I want to be biochemist because I want to continue learning and researching concepts that would ultimately benefit people. Science and medicine has always been something I desire to get into because it requires hard work, determination, and the desire to continuously learn. I would like to be the one to help others in the “back,” researching and developing ways to detect illnesses early for a healthy life. Not knowing who will be directly affected with these new medications or drugs produced would mean there wouldn’t be discrimination against a specific race because it’s produced for the general population. I wish others would secretly appreciate what I can contribute in the future even if it’s not

noticeable.

Going to college would fulfill my dreams because it’ll provide me an opportunity to continue learning and growing. College provides resources for learning which can be applied to other learning and experiencing environments. I would also be provided the resources to develop the skills needed to get further in that career and to get job opportunities, as well as developing my potential. College would grant me the chance to socialize and network with others of many other races, which better
prepares me for a job and a diverse future.

Coming from a hardworking family that fostered learning was passed down to me. I constantly want to learn to increase my wisdom but to also experience learning in a different form, such as learning about biochemistry to people and their cultures. To be given an opportunity for college would allow me to show all my potentials and to dedicate my knowledge into helping others. Helping cultivates a world of peace and welfare. If an opportunity to go to college would provide that, then it would be a desire of mine to attend it and to be one of those who could make a difference.