Andrew Brown
I was essentially born into an introductive course in cultural anthropology. I, like many others, was born into a multicultural family, my father being Jewish and my mother Catholic. The simple fact that I was introduced to different cultures at such a young age has let me see beyond the many monocultural barriers often in place during adolescence, which are often carried on through adulthood. I was fortunate to learn early on in my life that there are many people on this planet, each one of them unique, and with so much to learn from every individual.
Another area of my life that has contributed to my developing interest in anthropology is that my family moved around quite a bit as I was growing up; so much, in fact, that I have lived in every time zone in the continental United States. Even at an early age, I was often curious about how people spoke and behaved according to their geographical location; it amazed me how different a population is across state lines. Since I moved around a lot, I had to fit into these diverse groups. I literally had to study their cultures and adapt accordingly. I recognize now that I was a junior anthropologist doing fieldwork across the United States.
My interests in anthropology cemented further as I attended high school in the quintessential small town of Oakdale, California. Many students are well aware of the omnificent power of the high school social hierarchy, and what elements can bring a student up or down in ranking. During my freshmen year, I began to notice prejudices against homosexuals that were visible inside and outside the classroom. The actions of my classmates, and even some administers and teachers, unnerved me about the position of homosexuals in Oakdale High School's social hierarchy. The hate for these groups had strong undertones throughout the school; I personally felt disgusted that one could treat another in such a demoralizing way. With the help of some peers, and two very important teachers, I helped start Oakdale High School's first ever Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). This club's intention was to give our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) classmates a safe environment to speak openly about issues that affected their lives on a day to day basis. It was also aimed at spreading community tolerance in and out of Oakdale High School. My senior year I was elected president by unanimous vote, and even after I graduated I continued to support Oakdale's GSA. I helped bring an acting troop to Oakdale that put on a play dedicated to spreading equality for all ethnicities, sexual orientations, and religions; I am also currently starting the process of making a documentary video about attitudes towards homosexuality within Oakdale.
I have not had a formal internship regarding Anthropology due to lack of availability in the local area. However, my work with children has heavily influenced my decision to become an anthropology major. Knowing that we all are a product of our culture, and seeing how lost my generation is in terms of direction and education, I personally strive to ensure that they can have more experiences and potential outlets than what is currently offered. I have taken time outside of work to plan and organize workshops for children interested in theater, and introduce them to a creative means of expression that teach not only acting, but discipline, responsibility, and teamwork. Hopefully these students will take the life skills taught in these classes and utilize them successfully in the future.