Posts by Hightower

Hightower

Apr 22, 2012

Writing Feedback / Essay about my racial, cultural, and social identity [2]

This is a project that I was assigned in my race class. This stuff isn't the kind of thing I usually think about, so I just wanted to get an outsider's opinion on what I've done so far.

exploring my identity

1. Who am I? An overview of your labels: You will want to lay out in writing which labels apply to you. You will need to identify yourself racially and culturally. If you feel your gender, religion, sexual orientation, immigration status, or native language are also central to your being, I would love to hear about these as well. So in this section you will lay out the labels that you think apply to yourself, and explain why you have chosen them. This can be done in written format, or with writing and images.

My response:

American - Foremost I would consider myself an American. Going through my maternal lineage I am a tenth generation American. My ancestors were here before the Thirteen Colonies declared independence, and one of my ancestor's was given a land grant from a royal governor, so I feel deeply connected to the roots of this country.

White - I have light skin, and my ancestors hailed from Europe. Before this class I never gave any thought to Whiteness being a social construct or embedded institution.

Male - I have two sisters, so to me being male means I'm the special one. Also being bigger and stronger, and being able to reach the top shelf has proven indispensable.

Massachusetts, New Englander - I'm a fan of the history of the American revolution so I like living in a place with such rich history.

Catholic - Being Catholic is almost de rigueur for being an Irish-American.

Middle class - To me being middle class means that I have the opportunity to improve my standing in life with hard work and determination.

Politically independent - Politics are an important part of the American psyche. My mother is very liberal, and my father is conservative, but I'm probably more of a libertarian than anything else.

3. Race Matters: This section will focus on race in particular. In a short essay, I want you to discuss in particular your RACIAL background, and the costs and benefits associated with it. What does it mean to you to be African American? White? How does this label feel? Fit? cause you grief? If you are unsure, you should talk about why this is the case?

My response:

I am white, and I grew up in a predominantly white community, so whiteness has always seemed the norm to me, and I have never perceived any privileges or detriments coupled to my skin color. In effect my whiteness has been a nonentity to me, something I have taken for granted, kind of like being part of the "control group." I grew up living in a rather homogenous community, mostly Irish American, and dealing with people similar to myself in most regards. However, I don't think I've been culturally isolated, in grade school a number of my friends parents were first generation immigrants, and my friends spoke a second language at home; Bulgarian, Chinese, Hindi, Russian, French, and my room mate last year was from Dubai. For whatever reason, in my mostly homogenous community, my circle of friends happened to be rather diverse, but we all had more in common than we didn't. I generally expect to be judged by my merits not by skin color or other superficial qualities, and I try to afford other people that same courtesy.

Note: Questions 2 and 4 involve a visual component so I have excluded that part.

Hightower

Apr 22, 2012

Undergraduate / "matriarchal queen" - Northwestern Admissions [5]

Question: What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?

To me, Northwestern has always possessed a certain aura that comes from being the alma mater of the self-proclaimed "matriarchal queen" of my family, my grandmother. Though I have never made an official visit to campus and taken a conventional tour, I have seen it many times with my grandmother who has given me personal tours of the beautiful campus. What I love most about Northwestern however, goes far beyond its aesthetic campus, my favorite part of Northwestern is the most important part of college, the education. The unique academic system and style that is implemented at Northwestern delivers a quality of education that is simply unmatched elsewhere.

The most obvious and perhaps most famous of these unique features is the quarter system. By including a third term, a system that most schools have discontinued, students are granted the opportunity to explore a wider variety of academic pursuits than they would at other schools. The ability to take extra classes appeals to me, as it would allow me to further explore my academic interests and ultimately pursue a rewarding career.

Northwestern education is career driven, and being in close proximity to the bustling metropolis of Chicago, the university takes advantage of its location by offering students easy access to internships. The ability to find an internship while still in school will give me the ability to extend my learning beyond the classroom. Chicago is a diverse and increasingly global city, which offers opportunities in everything from financial institutions to medical technologies, all just an L ride away from campus. Northwestern's proximity to the city of Chicago will afford me the opportunity to get hands-on experience in actual workplaces, inducing learning that cannot occur in any classroom.

The part of the Northwestern Liberal Arts curriculum that fascinates me most are the Professional Linkage Seminars. The idea of having someone with first hand experience gives students a look into what goes on in "real world." Not only are the educational benefits of such courses invaluable, they also provide the ability to network with established people in their respective fields.

When push comes to shove college is about getting a well-rounded education. I believe that the "quarter system" and the career driven nature of Northwestern's academic programs will prepare me for my future by exposing me to a diverse variety of educational experiences. No matter what, I know that attending Northwestern will instill in me not only a first class education, but the pride that comes from being a Wildcat. I hope to one day, like my grandmother, return to Northwestern with my children or even grandchildren and rave about everything from the campus to the classes. Attending Northwestern will be something I will be proud of for the rest of my life.