Diversity and Inclusion

Imagine you’re listening to a song, but it only has one note, played over and over. It might be a nice note, but pretty soon, it gets a little boring, right? Now, imagine a whole orchestra, with violins, trumpets, drums, and flutes, all playing different notes that fit together in a beautiful harmony. That’s a little bit of what I feel like. Or think about a box of crayons. A box with only one color is okay, but a box with every color of the rainbow lets you draw anything you can imagine. I am in that box of crayons and in that orchestra. I’m the special feeling you get when you’re on a team where every player has a unique skill. One person is super fast, another is a great strategist, and another is the best encourager. Together, you’re unstoppable. Before I was truly understood, the world felt a little more like that single note, that one crayon. Many people saw things only from their own perspective, and anything different seemed strange or even frightening. But I was always there, waiting in the quiet spaces between cultures, in the new flavors of food from a country you’ve never visited, or in the sound of a story told in a language different from your own. I am the mix of all the wonderful, different, and amazing things that make each person who they are, from the way they think to the traditions they celebrate. I am the idea that these differences aren’t just okay—they’re what make our world strong, interesting, and beautiful. Hello there. You can call me Diversity and Inclusion.

For a long time, not everyone understood my importance. People often felt safer with those who looked, thought, and acted just like them. They built clubs with rules about who could join, and sometimes they made laws based on where someone’s family came from, the color of their skin, or whether they were a boy or a girl. It was like they were trying to listen to that song with only one note, and they were afraid to hear the rest of the music. But brave people knew the world was missing out on a beautiful symphony. They started speaking up. In the United States, people in the Civil Rights Movement worked to make sure everyone was treated fairly, no matter their race. A powerful speaker named Martin Luther King Jr. shared his dream of a world where people were judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. On December 1st, 1955, a quiet but courageous woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus, sparking a movement that changed the country. Their hard work led to big changes, like the Civil Rights Act signed on July 2nd, 1964, which made it illegal to discriminate against people. It wasn't just about race. For many years, women weren't allowed to vote or have the same jobs as men. They had to raise their voices to be heard, and on August 18th, 1920, they won the right to vote in the U.S. People with disabilities also fought to be seen and included. They explained that their wheelchairs or different ways of learning didn’t make them less capable. Their efforts led to the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26th, 1990, a promise to make sure buildings, schools, and jobs were open to everyone. Each of these moments was a step toward understanding me better. It was humanity learning that every single voice deserves to be heard in our world’s song.

So, what does this all mean for you today? It means that I am all around you, helping you in ways you might not even realize. When scientists from different countries and backgrounds work together, they share unique ideas that can lead to amazing discoveries, like new medicines or ways to protect our planet. They solve problems faster because they look at them from many different angles. When a book or a movie shows characters from all walks of life, it helps us understand each other and feel less alone. It expands our world without us ever leaving our homes. I am the magic that happens when everyone is invited to the party and also asked to dance. Think of it this way: Diversity is being invited to the team. Inclusion is getting to play in the game. You need both to win. Today, I am still growing, and my story is now being written by you. Every time you invite someone new to sit with you at lunch, listen with respect to an opinion you don’t understand at first, or stand up for a classmate who is being treated unfairly, you are helping me thrive. You are adding a new, beautiful note to our song. You are proving that our differences don’t pull us apart—they are the very things that, when brought together with kindness and respect, make our world smarter, more creative, and full of endless possibilities.