Appropriate Topic for Diversity Statement? Forum

[Long_Time_Lurker]

I'm hoping I can get some advice on whether or not it's appropriate for me to write a diversity statement in my applications.

I'm a 22 year old white male from a middle class (perhaps slightly lower-middle) family. However, for a period of several months in high school, my family's house was foreclosed on. We lost probably half of our possessions because we didn't have any place to store them and needed the space in the U-Haul/Storage Unit we rented for other things. For 3-4 months my family of four lived between a motel and a single bedroom of my step-dad's mom's townhouse.

I just don't know if I should write a statement about this experience as socioeconomic diversity. My family's financial situation was at an all time low then and it has improved a lot. Both of my parents changed careers and I really don't want it to seem as though I am attempting to capitalize on a rough time in my family's history.

[jerseymike]

I'm hoping I can get some advice on whether or not it's appropriate for me to write a diversity statement in my applications.

I'm a 22 year old white male from a middle class (perhaps slightly lower-middle) family. However, for a period of several months in high school, my family's house was foreclosed on. We lost probably half of our possessions because we didn't have any place to store them and needed the space in the U-Haul/Storage Unit we rented for other things. For 3-4 months my family of four lived between a motel and a single bedroom of my step-dad's mom's townhouse.

I just don't know if I should write a statement about this experience as socioeconomic diversity. My family's financial situation was at an all time low then and it has improved a lot. Both of my parents changed careers and I really don't want it to seem as though I am attempting to capitalize on a rough time in my family's history.

Did you learn anything important during this time? Or are you just going to say, "We were poor for a while"? If you can't extract any real lesson or meaning beyond the facts, it's probably not worth it. In fact, you're a white male. Probably better not to write it at all as the chances of screwing up are likely higher than the chances that it will have an impact.

[Long_Time_Lurker]

Did you learn anything important during this time? Or are you just going to say, "We were poor for a while"? If you can't extract any real lesson or meaning beyond the facts, it's probably not worth it. In fact, you're a white male. Probably better not to write it at all as the chances of screwing up are likely higher than the chances that it will have an impact.

Thank you for your response. I definitely learned quite a bit from the experience and it certainly shaped my attitudes and world view moving past it. But as you said, there are concerns that a poor statement would make it seem like I am grasping at straws.

[chuckbass]

Did you learn anything important during this time? Or are you just going to say, "We were poor for a while"? If you can't extract any real lesson or meaning beyond the facts, it's probably not worth it. In fact, you're a white male. Probably better not to write it at all as the chances of screwing up are likely higher than the chances that it will have an impact.

Thank you for your response. I definitely learned quite a bit from the experience and it certainly shaped my attitudes and world view moving past it. But as you said, there are concerns that a poor statement would make it seem like I am grasping at straws.

I think I see it more as the bolded. The chances of this hurting your application seem greater than the chances of you writing something that will be able to bolster your application.