Virtual Nameplate: My Multicultural Self Photograph & Story [EDS 3150 FA21] by Dr Spit

Ellen Spitler Cultural identity: Notions of "self"/Gender Roles

espitle1 — 2021-08-23 12:06:55 UTC

Wife, Mother, and Adventurer: This is a picture of me standing on the Leeward side of Oahu - where my husband and I lived for four years. We've been married for 35 years and decided right from the start of our adventure together that we would explore the world as much as we could. We've held on to that wandering promise and taken our two daughters on as many trips as we've been able to afford [on teachers' salaries]! With each exploration, we have learned more about each other and more about what it means to be partners, parents, and to be educators.

NOTIONS OF SELF/GENDER ROLES: Even before we were married, Dan and I have not been "traditional" in our marriage in terms of gender roles [i.e., the wife does the cooking/cleaning...]. Our "notions of self" and traditional gender roles have been sincere and honest, even raw at times...and that is why he has followed me to three different states, supported me in my career in higher education -- without his ego being bruised. He is the BEST! <3

Multicultural definition/ description: [I'll wait to share mine after you all share!]

Haim Magriso: Cultural identity- Notions of Modesty

hmagriso — 2021-08-23 17:27:45 UTC

I am a husband and a father from Greenwood Village. Forty five years young, I am also a stay at home dad and a student. My wife and I met in SF in 2005, and got married in 2008.
History is one of my biggest passions, as well as coaching soccer and jamming loud in the basement. I am an immigrant from Israel where I was born and raised. I moved to the states in 2005, moved to CO in 2009.
I want to teach history to middle schoolers or high schoolers, and transfer my passion of multicultural education.
I chose notions of modesty as a connection to myself. I feel very blessed and lucky to have what I have today, as well as my overall position in this world. My life was not always as easy and comfort as it is now. As a child, I had to fight hard to get things that are easily accessible today. I believe modesty is a big virtue, especially in today's world of instant gratifications and prospects that are valued more than others for the wrong reasons.

Sammi Jo Davis

sdavi165 — 2021-08-23 17:33:37 UTC

This is a picture of me in Colombia, along the Amazon River. I spent three months here, volunteering and doing humanitarian work with the families and communities. During that time, I was able to use my Spanish skills to build relationships with the people there and to learn about their culture. The joy I felt while working with these kids is what turned my love for the Spanish language and culture into my passion. It was incredible to be a part of their lives and it showed me that I want to continue to use my Spanish and to work with kids. I believe other cultures are worth celebrating and learning about. That is why I am studying to become a Spanish teacher. :) I also love to run long distance. I have ran one full marathon and 5 half marathons.

Multicultural education to me means learning about other cultures different than my own. Not only that, but it also means honoring, respecting and celebrating cultural differences. Differences are what make us unique and special.

ICEBERG/ Roles in Relation to Status (Marriage): I have always been an independent individual. It is really difficult for me to ask for help from others because I fear burdening them. When I met my husband, I quickly realized that although I could still be independent, we were a team now and I had to change the way I interacted. I have realized that being able to ask for help is not a weakness but actually requires strength and confidence in who you are.

Also CORE VALUES: Some of my core values are based on loving people and serving them with love and kindness. I believe that in order to love others, it requires us to give of ourselves, whether that be my time or my talents. Love to me, is an action that is lived out and reflected in how we treat those around us, including those who are different than us.

Brianna Mauricio-Perez

bmaurici — 2021-08-23 17:33:46 UTC

I am a Mexican-American bilingual musician. This picture is of me and my nephew. This shows my multicultural self because not only am I a first generation immigrant navigating both Mexican and American customs, but it is so important for my family to share those traditions with future generations. To me, every person is multicultural. There are family cultures, ethnic cultures, etc. and there will always be experiences that can be shared with others.

Ice Berg Concept:
Being a first generation Mexican-American, my family has always been extremely traditional and religious. This, of course, means that in my family, modesty, and respect was something that is held to a high standard. Also, our family dynamic has been very close and we always support each other and put family first.

Jolynne Wakefield

jwakefi11 — 2021-08-23 17:34:48 UTC

Wife, Mom, and crafty. This is a picture of me with my daycare kids this summer! They are all back in school fulltime and I am too! I have been married to my husband Gary for 27 years. I have 4 kids that are almost grown. My youngest is a senior in High school, and he is also back in school fulltime! I love to do all kinds of different crafts. I quilt, crochet, cross stitch, basically any type of crafting!
Multicultural means we all have different identities and perspectives based on our culture and experiences!
IDEALS GOVERNING CHILD RAISING: I have been taking care of children my whole life. My younger siblings are 10 and 12 years younger than me, so I am a second mom to them. Before having my own children, I had a narrow view of how to raise children. But through my experience with my children, the children I take care of, and life in general, my view has changed a lot! Children come with their own personalities and each one needs to be taken care of differently. Children also can come from all kinds of backgrounds and become great adults. There is not just one way to raise them, and the more people to help and support them the better!

Amy Yang/Roles in Relations, Sex and Class

ayang218 — 2021-08-23 17:35:50 UTC

I'm an artist, illustrator, and storyteller of sorts. My parents immigrated from Laos towards the end of the war and hold our Hmong heritage highly. With that- they held a lot of expectations for me and had a premade mold I didn't exactly fit into. I struggled between my American Identity and Asian one for a bit growing up but have found balance with it all. I have decided on becoming a teacher because I love working with children and have found happiness in doing so- I find the ever changing language and culture of new generations interesting.

Multicultural: A sea of people from all walks of life - understanding and existing alongside each other- the future.

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Roles in Relations, Sex and Class

In my family, there is more value in males than there are females thus any support for school or money was self-reliant as a female in my family. The classroom became a battlefield for me and it was a source of stress and fear that I'd never measure up to expectations and felt an envy and alienation towards my peers.

My parents expected a straight, marriage-eligible traditional Hmong woman with a man of a higher class.

Jacob Spreng

jspreng1 — 2021-08-23 17:37:40 UTC

Student, friend, and general dork.

This is a photo of me and Spider-Man because I figured it was the most interesting one of myself. I recall the event was in Utah where I often travel to spend time with friends and do work. When I am not in school, I work as a roadie for a music group. We travel all around the US and they will even be in the UK this week!

It is my aspiration to become a teacher and someday, utilizing my experiences in diverse settings to help bring us closer together as a people.

Iceberg Connection:
In my room there is a poster that displays an elderly man in a red-knit sweater with a puppet tiger propped upon his gentle hand. His smile accompanies a message: "People can like you exactly as you are". I have often felt the pain of rejection. In schools, in church, and in my family. It has been a lifelong desire to belong-- this is something everybody longs for I think. To be able to help others know that they are special just as they are, that they are liked despite their clothes, their hair, their feelings...whether old or new. This is the ultimate aspiration for humanity, isn't it? To enjoy the company of each other... to be loved and to love. To accept each other for the icebergs we are, to know that the essential is unseen.

Pat Doyle

pmdoyle4 — 2021-08-23 17:37:48 UTC

I am a husband, and father of 3: Kayleigh 17, Landace 15, and JP 12. I love a good stout beer. I am a big CU Buffalo football fan, I have season tickets. I am a veteran of the U.S. Army, I was an air traffic controller. Loved telling pilots where to good. I love the outdoors, hunting and fishing. I was born in Boulder, great place to be from. You could not pay to live there now.

Concepts of Justice:
Not all justice is visible, or current. Sometimes justice comes much later. Not everything is fair. It is misunderstood that everything can be fair. It is a great dream. Death of a child is not fair. We have no control over most of the events in our life.

Multicultural Education to me is understanding that everyone has different beliefs, traditions, and heritage; I will need to keep this in mind when I teach. Trying to use the different cultures to influence how I teach.

Kathryn Jenks

kathrynjenks2011 — 2021-08-23 17:37:49 UTC

A big aspect of my identity pertains to Ireland. I'm an Irish Dancer and I can speak Irish Gaelic better than most Irish people. I spent the summer of 2018 and 2019 living in the Connemara Gaeltacht about an hour west of Galway.

My identity as a daughter is also important to my identity. I was named for my maternal grandmother and share my father's middle name. It was my father who instilled in me my love of history and inspired me to study to be a history teacher. I'm particularly obsessed with the Plantagenets and the Tudor period of history.

Multicultural to me means embracing, accepting, and incorporating all the aspects of culture that we have gained over the years.

Cultural Iceberg: Core values. My core values include loyalty, especially to the ones I care about, fairness and equity, making sure, as much as I can, that everything is as fair as it can be, and kindness. I strive to treat everyone I meet with kindness, even if they are being rude, because I don't know their background.

Alicia Montoya

aliciamontoya1798 — 2021-08-23 17:37:50 UTC

I am a First Generation College Student, "Big sister"/Daughter, and I am a Family Leader! The picture above, is me getting my Associates Degree from FRCC with my younger sister by my side. I am the first in my family to go to college, and in a few cases, the first to complete high school. I am the oldest of two, but only by 16 months! My sister is currently a nursing student, and together we are navigating college. I am also the daughter to my mother and father who without them and their support, I would not be where I am today. My parents worked multiple jobs, full time for many years, and made sure we had what we needed. I am also a "Family Leader," which to give a bit of background, I also work here at MSU for the office of First Generation Initiatives, where I help first-year students through their first year of school as a mentor and resource. I absolutely love my job and it has secured my path in education!

Definition
To me multicultural means, as a whole, we have to look at people through their identities and how those identities intersect one another and influence how they navigate different spaces. In education, this is especially important, because we all have different identities that impact how we learn and grow.

The Cultural Iceberg
Assumptions: Externally, it is observable and has been assumed most of my life that my sister pictured in my post is, my half or step sister because of how different we look. Despite this not being the case, based on my appearance in comparison to her and the rest of my family, these assumptions are understandable. However, like with an iceberg, the surface does not tell the whole story. I am a third-generation Mexican-American who grew up with all of the same culture and traditions, generations before passed down to us. I grew up with her being my full-blood sister, and my opposite both in appearance and personality, but at our core, we share values and experiences similar to many who grew up Mexican-American as well.

Social Interaction Rate: Another piece that externally can be seen, that is also just the tip of the iceberg is my temperament. Before coming out of my shell, I was an extremely shy child, who dressed very conservatively (partially because it was expected) and never spoke in class voluntarily. Now that I am older, this has changed and my social interaction rate has grown tremendously. The work I have done, and the push my parents gave me to put myself out there has changed how I carry myself. I am more expressive and ready to raise my hand and speak. However, deep down inside, I am still that shy little kid and have a really hard time still with going out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there. Sure I do it, but I have a lot more learning to do, and have learned to be comfortable with knowing my social interaction rate is not the same as everyone else's.

Sarah Loarca

sloarca1 — 2021-08-23 17:38:04 UTC

Daughter, sibling, and artist. I'm the daughter of two immigrants. My mom and dad came to the US from Mexico and Guatemala, respectively, at very young ages with their families. The photo I chose is a portrait I made of myself two years and half years ago. Portraits can say a lot about oneself, but they don't explicitly tell the viewer who they are. I'm from Northern Virginia, and this will be my 3rd week living in CO. Currently, I am working as a SPED paraprofessional at Horizon MS, and I absolutely love my students. For me, multiculturalism is about bringing together various different identities both seen and unseen.

Cultural Iceberg: Concept of Cleanliness/Notions of Modesty
Growing up in a Hispanic household, cleanliness was a very big thing in my family. We often had to make sure our home looked like no one lived there. Whenever we had guests coming over our bedrooms needed to be spotless. We could only eat in the dining room, and we couldn't eat in the car. Modesty was a very big thing in my family. Anyone who wore shorts that my family deemed too short was seen as less than. If they were confident in their body they were seen as less than for showing it off. However, as children, when we dressed nicely or wore bathing suits we were handed mature comments.

Megan Bridston

meganbridston — 2021-08-23 17:38:18 UTC

Girlfriend, Spanish Speaker, and Adventurer: This is a picture of me when I went to the International American School in Tunisia, where my aunt worked for 8 years as an international teacher. I was able to assist in her classroom and have an experience similar to student teaching for a month in a 5th grade classroom. I love to travel and explore different cultures, so to be able to be in a classroom that had students from all over the world was amazing. Almost every student was from a different country and they all knew at least 3 different languages. It was so enlightening and was amazing to work with these culturally diverse students who each had completely different backgrounds. Everyone is multicultural to me considering everyone has such different backgrounds, families, lifestyles, traditions, etc. -- these different aspects can help to create or define what a culture is and what it means to be part of a culture.. or multiple, which I think everyone is part of more than one culture.

Cultural Iceburg:
Expectations of the family (job, school, gender roles), Expectations in school (straight A's)

Jill Gonzales

jgonz2321 — 2021-08-23 17:40:26 UTC

21-year-old artist, linguistics minor, and English major with an emphasis in secondary education. I work in health care as a phlebotomist, I’m a child care supervisor, and I work at a hotel as well. I have two dogs, a red heeler and a black lab German Shepard, that are my world! My definition of multicultural is introspection and intersectionality between cultural groups/societies.

Cultural Iceberg (1)

espitle1 — 2021-08-24 14:31:16 UTC

Cultural Iceberg (2)

espitle1 — 2021-08-24 14:31:51 UTC

Chad Friesen

cfriese123 — 2021-08-30 14:21:24 UTC

This photograph captures my father and I on the top of Torreys Peak. One aspect of my identity is the outdoors. Being outdoors is extremely important to us as a family. I spent my early life being dragged to places like these with my family, but after many years I have become the organizer of many of these events. I am proud that my dad would let me choose this and many other outings to experience nature with our favorite people. The idea that anything worthwhile is not easy has been instilled within me at a young age as well. I know it sounds corny but sometimes you find the destination is not near as exciting as the journey you took to get there.

Multicultural Education to me is being able to see life through different eyes and know that each has something valuable to add to the culture you create within your classroom.

Patterns of handling emotion
I have learned a lot from my family about how to handle emotions. Through my father's eyes I have learned that relying on others to help you through tough times is an important key to not only building stronger relationships, but also for your own mental health. Through my mother's eyes I have learned to be strong in the face of adversity by handling emotions within and reflecting on them so you never forget.

William Morgan

2021-08-30 17:58:44 UTC

Husband, Father, Outdoorsman. This picture is of my 7 year old little girl. A large chunk of my identity is being from Hawaii. Its the culture I grew up in that is so different to others.

Multicultural means accepting everyone for who they are and not judging because of my ignorance.

Cultural Iceberg: Family, Loyalty, Body language, Aloha, Fairness. I have realized being 6'5" I need to watch my body language, tone and facial expressions. I can come off as aggressive when I'm not trying to be,