Hola. Bon Jour. Grazie. Hello. At Northwood Junior High School, hearing foreign languages from students of various cultural backgrounds is the norm. Northwood, which contains substantial Caucasian, Hispanic, and African-American populations, is one the most diverse schools in the entire nation. Luckily, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend this diverse environment and it provided me an educational and real world experience I would wish upon anybody. In middle school, I can proudly say I was friends with people of all different religious backgrounds, including Jews, Muslims, and Catholics. The ethnic curiosity and knowledge that I developed and nurtured at NJHS will give great comfort as I branch out to make friends with people of all different races and religions at Michigan.
Until I entered 6th Grade, I had grown up with many kids very similar to me. We were mostly Jewish, middle class, and white; I was comfortable with this group and we were close for as long as I could remember. However, through volleyball, basketball, and classes, I met people who were radically different than myself. For example, there was a non-Jewish friend of mine who was asked why we had a day off of school for Yom Kippur, the most religious Jewish holiday. He replied, “I don’t know, but I sure as hell don’t care.” Likewise, at NJHS we would acknowledge holidays including Good Friday, Ramadan, and even Cinco de Mayo. Northwood brought me closer to people like this and I was able to befriend classmates who didn’t know the first thing about my background.
The extensive diversity was every evident from my visit to Ann Arbor and I am excited to meet new and different types of people. My early education experience will be a valuable tool available for my future. This is what makes Northwood, and in turn, me, so unique. Diversity became an integral part of my school life at a young age and this unique background will be beneficial as I move on to college and eventually the real world. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to Michigan’s reputation of diversity. Adios y gracias.