Diversity is essentially about the quantitative representation of differences including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, age, social class, nationality, political beliefs, etc. We use diversity to measure the representation of cultural communities in our school, workplace and society. Equity is about recognizing that not everyone starts from the same place because of the historical legacies of discrimination that impact our current realities. Learning equity helps us recognize the supremacy, power, and privilege in our societal system. During my academic journey at the University of Washington Bothell, I was given many opportunities to grow and challenge my understanding of diversity and equity. Being a Community Psychology major student, I have gained many experiences on absorbing and producing knowledge that can inform social policies, helping practices, and community change based on my knowledge of diversity and equity. Out of all my academic accomplishments during my journey at UW Bothell, there are three artifacts of mine which I have mentioned for my Creative & Critical Thinking and Collaboration & Leadership sections, but I believe it can also demonstrate my abilities to think and learn about diversity and equity in a variety of contexts.

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       The first artifact was a group paper from my BIS380 Bioethics class instructed by Professor Laura Harkewicz in Winter 2021, in which me and my group members were tasked to discuss and evaluate different versions of the ethical dilemma’s scenario, consider and apply the four primary ethical principles (justice, beneficence, respect for autonomy/persons, non-maleficence), then generate group decision on solving such dilemmas. This was a perfect opportunity for me to learn and experience diversity and equity. Equity was one of the most discussed terms when we trying to complete this assignment in a diverse group setting. We understood that equity promotes fairness by recognizing that each person's circumstances are different, and it is essential to give the appropriate resources and opportunities that necessary to achieve an equal outcome. I've been able to analyze alternative views and the ways that prejudice influences how we approach certain things even towards life-or-death decisions through classes focusing on themes like these.

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       The second artifact was the Research Cluster Paper from my BIS313 Issues in Media Study class instructed by Professor Ron Krabill in Autumn 2021, in which me and my group members were tasked to explore a specific human rights issue (Death Penalty) and the public contestation around it in more detail. A diversity course is required of all students before they graduate as we live in such a diverse world that is in constant change. We devised one possible intervention, then facilitated the knowledge we have gained on the topic to the rest of class through group presentation at the end of the quarter. Using a lens of diversity and equity on the issue it was clear how historically marginalized groups are more susceptible to such capital punishment and human right violation. In fact, studies which examine the relationship between race and the death penalty have shown there is a pattern of either race-of-victim or race-of-defendant discrimination, or both. It is impossible for us to achieve so called fairness without realizing, acknowledging and resolving fundamental inequities in a world where racism have its deep roots in the justice system.

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      The third artifact was the Final Paper(Stigma in Mental Health) from my BIS270 Abnormal Psychology class instructed by Professor William E. Hartmann, in which I was given the opportunity to critically discuss, analyze, and interpret the stigmatization of mental disorders, and how has it become an obstacle to a healthy society. By completing this assignment, I learned how and why people would act discriminately towards people with mental disorders. I also learned that most people with mental disorders prefer not to be treated differently regarding their conditions. Personally, I believe this is the first and the most important step to understand people with mental disorders because in order to build a healthy community under the framework of diversity we must understand that no one can be considered normal or abnormal. By researching the stigmatization of mental disorders, I learned how vulnerable people with mental disorders can be and discrimination may lead them to question their existence. To avoid this, the best way is to treat others as how we wanted to be treated because this is what human beings want.