1 Running head: POSTTEST REFLECTION ESSAY

Posttest Reflection Essay Charlie Vaughn Georgia State University

Author Note This paper was prepared for Social Work 3000, Communications and Cultural Diversity, taught by Karen Watkins, PhD, LMSW

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Abstract In the first few weeks of this course, I was overwhelmed with the syllabus and the assignments required. I felt that I did not have enough awareness and background knowledge to understand cultural diversity and in some areas I lacked confidence which I knew I needed if I was to succeed. In this paper I will discuss how my emotions and feelings have changed, how my scores on the pretest and posttest have changed, as well as how my perceptions and assumptions have changed in regards to cultural awareness and diversity. I will also be discussing in this paper how I will be using the information and knowledge I have gained throughout this semester in my future profession. Not only has the course provided me with a broad understanding of many issues related to diversity and cultural awareness, but I have been enlightened, empowered, and more motivated to be a voice and leader for change and opportunity.

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Posttest Reflection Essay Throughout this semester, I have been challenged and educated on many areas which will help me succeed as a social worker. I have I gained skills and knowledge which will guide me in my profession as a social worker, and I have also developed a better understanding of ethics and values which I shall incorporate in all areas of my life. This course has provided me with a better understanding and awareness of self which has empowered and encouraged me to be culturally sensitive and aware to others. In this paper I will discuss the overall emotions and feelings I have had during this semester, my feelings about how my scores have changed, and also how my overall perceptions have changed in regards to cultural awareness and diversity. Feelings about Scores In the first few weeks of this course, I was shocked by the lack of knowledge I had on cultural diversity. I scored a 78 on the Cultural Competencies Pretest and a 175 on the Diverse Groups and Social and Economic Justice Pretest. Both of these scores were in the not very likely range which showed that I was not competent in in this subject and that I did not have an understanding or a good knowledge on the many issues that subordinate groups and minorities face in America. I knew from the beginning of the semester that I must be fully engaged in my learning experience and must remain open-minded to gather as much information and knowledge as possible. As the weeks went by and as I continued to complete the assignments and stayed focused on my learning, I began to develop confidence within myself in terms of cultural awareness. I began seeing groups from a whole new perspective and also began learning of myself. This class taught me that every person has a story, every person has subordinate and dominate group memberships, and that as a social worker I must celebrate and embrace diversity. This class taught me that in order for me to provide an effective and respectful service to the clientele that I will serve; I must have a broad understanding of their cultural background. I must learn of their religious practices, their cultural values, their language, and also their overall beliefs and view on life to better serve them. I also learned that in order to gain trust and establish a professional relationship with my clients, I must be able to establish goals and good communication that are culturally acceptable. I have learned that I must be aware of oppression, discrimination, and the stereotypes certain individuals and groups face so that I can provide a service delivery and solutions based on my critical thinking analysis. Although the journey I have had during this course has been a big task and one which has required much effort and work, the overall experience I have had is one which I am grateful for. My scores improved tremendously on the Cultural Competencies Posttest and the Diverse Groups and Social and Economic Justice Posttest. I scored a 125 on the Cultural Competency Posttest which showed that I developed and was successful in my learning about cultural awareness, knowledge acquisition, and skill development. I scored a 253 on the Diversity and

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Social and Economic Justice Posttest which again showed that I was successful in my learning about the many cultural groups we covered this semester. My overall feelings of my improvement of these scores is that I am encouraged, motivated, and plan to remain engaged in cultural immersions and events which I can build upon my knowledge. I also plan to take the skills and knowledge I acquired with me throughout all areas of my career and life and use them to promote diversity. Perceptions and Assumptions of Cultural Awareness As this course is winding down and looking back at what I have learned, I am very happy and uplifted by the experience which I had. This course was able to take me along a journey which in the beginning seemed impossible and unrealistic. I started this course with little knowledge and awareness of cultural diversity but once I had completed my assignments, I was completely surprised on how much knowledge and awareness I had gained. The critical thinking which was required at all times and also through the various writing assignments, I was able grasp the true meaning of words and ideas such as oppression and discrimination. I was able to see through a new set of lens how so many people in this country are held back and struggle daily in so many areas. This course has changed my perception of cultural awareness in many ways. I plan to continue to be involved and engaged in cultural events in my community, I plan to promote diversity, and I also plan to be more active in subordinate and oppressed populations than I had planned before this course. Perceptions and Assumptions of Diverse Groups One of the most challenging lessons and events that I experienced through this course was learning that many of the perceptions, assumptions, and stereotypes that I had of many diverse groups were inaccurate. I learned that many of the beliefs and assumptions that I had of many groups were false beliefs that had been passed down through many generations of my family. This course challenged me to uncover the many stereotypes and myths that I held of diverse groups and also to look within myself to gain a better understanding of why the beliefs existed. I was able to seek answers and find truth of the many issues we covered in class and I was also able to gain a new perspective of the groups we studied. I learned that regardless of which cultural group one belongs to, that each and every person struggles with discrimination and oppression in some area of their life, and that each person has a past which directly influences their perceptions and views on the world. The areas and groups which my perspective and assumptions changed the most would be European Americans, LGBT members, and Muslim Americans. Although I am a member of the European American Group, the process of looking at myself and to see the ways I have been privileged compared to the people who are not was very eye-opening. I was able to see how many of the privileges and opportunities that I take for granted are often denied and not provided to members of various groups.

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I also was enlightened and encouraged by the process I had of learning about the LGBT community. The interview I conducted provided me with an interpersonal experience in which I was able to learn of the discrimination, oppression, and stigmatization that these members experience and live. The one thing that touched me the most about the process of learning of the LGBT community was the fact that the main concern for many of its members is that just want to be viewed as humans and be provided with equality and rights regardless of who they love and are in a relationship with. While studying the Muslim American group I was amazed at how their religion and values are misinterpreted by so many. It was very educational to me to learn of the religion Islam and also to learn of the oppression and discrimination that these members have been faced with since 9/11. This knowledge revealed to me that the lives of Muslim Americans are extremely hard in the United States and there needs to be more social and economic protection, policies, and advocacy to help the Muslim Americans live better lives without the discrimination and oppression that they face. Future Profession This course has encouraged and motivated to be a leader and voice for opportunity and change. By learning of the NASW Code of Ethics, I was able to see how I must always remain involved in cultural immersions, education, and that I must always stay on top of current events which affect groups of all cultures. As I continue to move forward in the BSW program I hope to take all the information I learned during this course and apply it to many areas of my life. I plan to use the NASW Code of ethics not only in the practice relationships I will have as a professional, but also in my workplace settings, my educational settings, and also with the relationships I will have with my peers. The code of ethics has taught me that I must stay proactive in my education, and that I must always remain open and teachable. Conclusion This course has been a very fun and educating experience. Not only I have learned much about myself and my past, but I have been able to gain a broader knowledge and awareness of the many groups and people that make up America. This course has provided me with knowledge and skills which I needed to be a competent and effective social worker. The awareness, knowledge, and skill development which I have gained throughout this semester I will use as my foundation to becoming an ethical and culturally sensitive social worker. I have learned to appreciate people of all backgrounds and to seek truth in all things in life. Dr. Watkins was an awesome and very knowledgable professor for this course. Although her workload is strenuous, extremely challenging, it was worth every bit of it. I am so grateful to have had this experience and truly grateful for all that I have gained.