i had to write this as part of an application for an adjunct position at a junior college
Equity Statement
As a minority (Mexican/Filipino/Indian), I have experienced
a negligible amount of discrimination because of my ethnic background. I grew
up in a predominantly white suburb on the outskirts of Bakersfield, Ca. None of
it hampered my opportunities however. I believe that, for the most part,
America remains a very free country where any person who works hard, treats
people well, and does his best to make honest and moral choices will succeed. I
have taught many years and encountered many students of all kinds of ethnic and
socioeconomic backgrounds. I have done my best to expect the best of every
student, to challenge them all, and to treat them with respect. At the same
time, I do not believe any student has the right to treat anyone else with
disrespect, regardless of their ethnicity, their socioeconomic background, or
any personal difficulty they may face. We all face difficulty in life, and we all
bear the responsibility to overcome difficulty and give our best to the people
around us, no matter what real or perceived slight, discrimination, prejudice,
or injustice we, our family or our ancestors have faced. Difficult situations
create character, and character brings success. We do not find character by
casting blame on others or by demanding what we did not earn.
Ted Cortez
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