Thoughts on Diversity

Welcome to my very first blog entry... ever. Enjoy!

Some thoughts on diversity:

As I witness the percentage of international students enrolled in the SFSU College of Business Graduate Programs quickly climb to nearly 50 percent of the student body population, I'm reminded of how diversity contributes positively to the learning experience. For instance, I greatly appreciate the cultural differences that often lead to engaging classroom discussions and the occasional passionate debate. It's far more interesting to hear a firsthand account of the legendary working habits of Japanese salarymen, or the infiltration of American fast food joints in India, rather than only reading about it in a dry, wordy, (ridiculously overpriced) international business textbook.

Referring to campus as a microcosm of world cultures would not be an overstatement. It seems as though virtually every country in existence has its own student representative at SFSU. Whether I'm gaining insight into the delectable regional cuisine savoured in Morocco, the relentless bargaining tactics utilized in Turkey, or the impeccable fashion sense of those residing in Germany, I consider it all an enriching supplement to the standard academic study requirements, and I'm a better, more informed citizen of the world as a result. Born and raised in the Bay Area, I've grown quite accustomed to the diverse environment around me and I wouldn't have it any other way.

On journalism:

I have absolutely no journalistic experience whatsoever. However, as a (lifelong) business student and aspiring marketing professional, I very much admire those with a knack for exceptional writing and public speaking. Every so often, I'm completely in awe of my peers and I'm thankful for the talented group members with whom I've had the pleasure of working with. Although I'm convinced a chosen few were born with such innate abilities, I can only hope to learn a few pointers along the way.

And on life as a Maynard Intern:

I'm already into the later half of my third week here, and it's been busy. During my internship, I plan to build awareness of the MIJE and generate interest in our brand spanking new website: www.mije.org!

My first week in one word: Research. Lots and lots of research. Without giving away too much, I looked into the increasing popularity of social networking Web sites and online advertising. Keep an eye out for shiny new MIJE MySpace and Facebook profiles, courtesy of myself and fellow rockstar Intern/Assistant/Blogger, Diana.

I slowly started building upon my previous Mac computer experience. Remember old school, pixelated Oregon Trail? That's pretty much the extent of my early Mac capability. Also, I picked up some basic FileMaker and Constant Contact skills.

The following week, Andrea (awesome graphics Intern) gave us an informative demonstration on the many uses of Adobe Illustrator. Also, I had an opportunity to play HR assistant for a day! Registering as an employer and posting jobs on assorted Web sites is more time consuming than you might think. I really liked screening resumes and being on "the other side of the desk" in general. Interested in interning at the MIJE? Search your local university's career center job bank for current openings!

This week so far... How difficult is it to order various back copies of your favorite daily newspaper? That depends on which paper you prefer. USA Today? Easy. Their online store is entirely self-service, with straightforward navigation and archived issues dating back 10 years. Other newspapers (that shall remain nameless)? Not so much.

Also, I'm finally getting around to writing that blog.

The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to training journalists of color in order to provide accurate representation of minorities in the news media. To check out the latest diversity headlines, visit www.mije.org.