Cassidy Roderick

12/08/2014
Joe Martin
Portfolio: Reflection Essay
This portfolio is a collection of all my assignments pertaining to the exploring
culture assignment. These assignments demonstrate the ideas and stereotypes I
have learned about throughout this semester. These assignments not only included
my research, but it also presented my communication skills that I have obtained
during the course of this class. These skills are something that I will utilize and carry
with me for the rest of my life.
The assignments in this portfolio contain the research findings that I spent
this semester finding. I learned things about the LGBT culture that I probably never
would have known otherwise. This research involved things like the views that the
people within the LGBT group have towards all they stereotypes associated with
them. I also learned about how the acceptance of the people within the LGBT group
has expanded over the years. When conducting my research on another culture it
made me realize that there are many misconceptions about not only the LGBT
group, but about every culture out there. People tend to make generalizations about
groups, which are more than likely, not true. On top of all the things I learned
through my research I also learned things during the time spent in this class.
My time in this class helped me in evolving my research skills and
interpersonal communication skills. These were skills that I knew I had, but never
really understood what they were or never really had to put to use before my time

in this course. I never realized that every time I tweeted, waved, or even smiled at
someone as they walked by was a form of interpersonal communication skills. This
class helped me in a better understanding of how to use these skills in a positive
way for my every day life. We talked about the benefits and down sides to this type
of communication. I also learned that not all interpersonal skills had to be verbal. I
never really thought of my nonverbals as a way of communication. These
nonverbals include things like hand motions, what tone things are said in, body
language, and facial expressions. Throughout this course I learned how these verbal
and nonverbals are different for different cultures. This was somewhat surprising to
me. I never realized that there were certain nonverbals that could be seen as
offensive to someone of another culture when it is something that is so normal in
our society.
With all of these things that I have experienced and learned throughout the
course of this class I believe that I have grown immensely as a communicator. I not
only learned things about my culture and interpersonal skills but I also learned
about a variety of other cultures. Listening to other peoples speeches during this
class was something that was like a demonstration of all the interpersonal skills,
verbal and nonverbal, that we discussed in class so often. This class has taught me
so many new things and taught me to never judge a book by its cover so to speak.