Diversity Statement Equal Rights for All. A philosophy intensely advocated by Martin Luther King, underscores equity realization.

Today, the same philosophy is being incorporated at all levels of the society. But, a natural question that comes to ones mind is, what could have been the driving force behind the world-wide acceptance to equity. A conscientious look over the effects equity had on society; diversity enhancement appears to be playing a pivotal role in its acceptance. Considering, the effect diversity could have at educational level; I find the exposure and interaction it offers by a diverse mix of students helps a student in developing a higher levels of critical thinking. It exposes student to the diverse perspectives a situation could have, which gives rise to multiplicity of views- a key factor in knowledge development. Such conclusive remarks on diversity are attributed to my Indian upbringing and background. An upbringing in a country famous for its diversity instilled in me a respect for all religions, for different people and for their cultures. Moreover, my schooling at convent school provided me a close look and a better understanding of a culture which was very different from the one I was being brought up in. Further, my association with Aligarh Muslim University as an undergraduate student continues to offer me a mix of cultures and values. Students from all corners of the world- Africa, west Asia, Southeast Asia,
SAARC and Commonwealth countries- has been continuously adding up to the Universitys diversity. Evolving in such an environment, I experienced the efficacy the diversity among students, exploration of

unexplored perspectives and experiences have in development of a genuine and authentic self which could otherwise default to an automatic adoption of the perspectives, values and social roles from which one belong. Though the difference among people has been given maximum recognition in the context of diversity, but a holistic view finds it as a natural multidimensional phenomenon taking form in all forms of life. An easy example could be the diversity seen in sports, cultural or literary activities. Being an active participant in such activities since my school days, my willingness to further explore these different forms of diversity inspired me to join NCC (National Cadet Corps) of India. NCC aiming to groom its cadets into a disciplined and patriotic citizen helped me learn basic natural hazard management techniques. Training me to handle simple weapons and making me self-dependent to face all situations, it made me worthy for others, thus adding an extra dimension to my personality along with broadening my scope of viewing things. Experiencing the positive impacts evolution in a diverse environment have, I plan to pursue my further studies from the University supporting diversity, where my experience and knowledge could be of benefit to others and vis--vis. In addition, always being in forefront in conducting activities and programs for helping juniors by assisting them in their coursework and giving lectures to help learn new programming languages at my undergraduate level, I look forward for further providing such services. The synchronisation of my aspirations and The University of Minnesota- Twin Cities work to promote diversity at the campus channelized by its Office of Equity and Diversity coupled with various multicultural student activities carried out by Indian Student Association, Voices Merging, etc. like associations makes the university an optimal choice for pursuing my Masters Studies. Furthermore, with a rich cultural and academic background I am confident to add colors and expanse to the learning atmosphere of your university. Kanika Shah