Is this diversity-statement-worthy? Forum

[yong1ekim]

This past summer I went as a short-term missionary to a small village in Peru called Huaraz. (I know religion is a topic one should try to avoid on PS's and DS's if possible)

Instead of focusing on the "Christian" motive of the trip, I want to focus on what I did in Peru and how it might make me unique. To explain...

I was born in the States but am fluent in Korean. My initial role in Peru was twofold: 1) work with the medical staff/doctors who traveled with us to provide medicine and preventive care to the villagers 2) translate Korean to English for the Spanish translators who met us in Peru (my church is made of all or mostly all 1st generation Koreans who cannot speak English).

However, the second day into our trip two of the translators said they could not help us anymore and left. As a result, we were in dire need of someone who could not only speak Spanish to the villagers, but also translate for our group (Korean to Spanish).

I guess this is where the uniqueness comes into play? (I took 4 years of Spanish throughout high school and participated in missions trips to Spanish-speaking countries in the past. Consequently, though I am not fully-fluent, I am conversational in the language). The rest of the trip I mediated three languages Spanish-Korean-English simultaneously.

Is this unique enough to be considered DS-worthy?

I am a bit worried because my PS also highlights my language mediation/translation skills a bit as well. I don't want the adcom to start thinking my best, but ONLY qualities are language-based...but then again, this definitely is my most refined soft skill...

What do you guys think?

[WhiteyCakes]

COuld be....but Diversity Statements shoudl also tie back into what you think you could add to the fabric of the institution. From the sound of it, you have already discussed that in your PS.

[yong1ekim]

COuld be....but Diversity Statements shoudl also tie back into what you think you could add to the fabric of the institution. From the sound of it, you have already discussed that in your PS.

Yeah, it's pretty frustrating...I really feel I could benefit from a good DS but then again, I don't want to do it at the risk of sounding redundant.

[yong1ekim]

Lol...sorry for replying so much to my own post.

I just came across some information that may be relevant to some of you who may be experiencing a similar problem as me when writing your DS.

This is directly from Stefanie's (writing tutor/editor) website "the Advanced Edit":

"…draw upon your personal statement or letters of recommendation. If there is a common tie between your career goals and what you talk about in your diversity statement, then make that connection. Don’t be afraid to be thematic in your application, stemming connections and ties across your diversity statement, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and even addenda. It would only help to make your application a more solid package."

Perhaps there is a way to write a DS that draws on things from your PS after all?