Tyler Ryan
I had a nightmare the other day. I was in art class, and my assignment was to paint a rainbow. I went to open my paints and, to my horror, I only had one color to paint with. Of course, I could still try to paint that rainbow, but it would lack the richness, vibrancy, and depth of a rainbow that features a variety of colors. Diversity is the deluxe pack of crayons that allows us to color our world with all the tones and hues we can imagine.
Diversity is all around us. Diversity is the rich tapestry of different races, ethnicities, cultures, genders, religions, abilities, and ideas that work together in harmony to shape the collective experience we call life. These differences we see in each other are strengths. These differences show that even though each of us has our own needs, we each have distinct abilities as well, and everyone has something to contribute.
One of the most powerful things about diversity is how it brings people and communities together. A variety of voices, each giving their own opinion and idea, can tackle any type of obstacle a group may face. Being in a community of diverse voices helps one to grow emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.
But diversity isn’t just about recognizing differences. Diversity is also about inclusion and respect. It’s about making sure everyone feels seen, heard, recognized, and appreciated. When we celebrate others for who they are, we create a world that is not only colorful but also fair and welcoming.
While an artist can get the job done with only one color, having a well-stocked paintbox with a spectrum of colors gives that artist the best opportunity to create the masterpiece they envision. Diversity teaches us to see beauty in our differences and celebrate what makes each of us unique. Without those differences, our world wouldn’t be nearly as bright.