The Goal of this mini-experiment: The objective is to foster a greater sense of kinship across group boundaries by reflecting on even small similarities with someone in your life who appears very different from you.
What should you do:
Think of a person in your life who seems to be very different from you. They may have contrasting interests, religious or political beliefs, or life experiences. This person could be someone you have had a personal conflict with or someone belonging to a group in conflict with a group you associate with.
Create a list of all the things you most likely share in common with this person. Consider aspects such as working for the same company, attending the same school, having children, or having a significant other. Take time to review this list of commonalities.
Shift your perspective. Instead of viewing this person as unfamiliar or as a member of an out-group, try to see them as an individual with whom your tastes and experiences might overlap in certain ways. Recognize the potential for shared connections.
Repeat this exercise with a couple more individuals who initially seem different from you, those with whom you have conflicts, or those who make you feel uncomfortable.
What should you write in your reflection: In your reflection, focus on the following aspects:
Describe the similarities you discovered with people who initially seemed very different from you. Discuss specific commonalities you identified and how they relate to your own life.
Reflect on your experience of attempting to develop a shared identity with these individuals. How did it make you feel? Did it challenge any preconceived notions or biases? Explore the impact of this activity on your perspective of these people.
Share in detail what you did throughout the exercise, how you felt during the process, and what you learned from the overall experience. Consider any personal growth, shifts in perception, or increased empathy you may have gained.
Additionally, write about what you learned about culture through this exercise that was not covered in the book. Discuss any insights or observations you made regarding cultural differences and their impact on fostering connections and understanding.
By engaging thoughtfully with these instructions and reflecting on your experiences, you will deepen your understanding of finding common ground and cultivating kinship with individuals who may initially seem different from you.
Grading Rubric for Personal Reflection #3:
Relationship Description: The reflection identifies the individuals with whom the shared identity was explored, without explicitly naming them, and discusses the past relationship with these individuals and how they typically made the student feel (5 points).
Shared Characteristics, Traits, and Experiences: The reflection highlights the characteristics, traits, and experiences that the student discovered they shared with the identified individuals, going beyond surface-level similarities and delving into meaningful connections (5 points).
Initial Feelings: The reflection articulates how they felt when writing and discovering the characteristics, traits, and experiences they shared with the identified individuals, and provides specific examples of their emotional experiences (5 points).
Impact of Reflecting on Shared Identity: The reflection explores how reflecting on the shared identity changed the student’s perceptions and feelings toward the individuals and a comparison is made between the actual experience of reflecting on shared identity and the expected experience if only reading about it in the textbook (5 points).
