Charlottesville has always been a place of contrasts for me. I am the daughter of more moderate parents, but very much the product of the liberal community I have grown up in. The city itself is one of the most socioeconomically and racially stratified cities in the state. One cannot grow up in this kind of juxtaposition and not develop a disproportionate emphasis on listening. Ever since I was kid, nothing has irritated and frustrated me more than what I perceived to be thoughtless opinions. While I stand firmly in my beliefs, no matter how I feel on the topic, I will take my argument as far in the other direction as I needed to ensure the other side is faithfully represented. I’ve carried this desire for compromise and cooperation with me, and I’ve tried to lead others down the same path. In a school where many students are so sure that their collection of beliefs is correct that they neglect the merits of any other contrasting ideas, and in a community that, despite its diversity, seems to promote the voices of only a specific demographic, I became frustrated with …show more content…
But, I’ve worked to develop the skills that will help me make small steps. In fostering a deep curiosity about the exploration of complex issues, I have tried to inspire the same desire to discuss complex issues. In developing a perceptiveness to others’ situations, I have worked to value what the dichotomies in our society fail to - the unique ideas of underrepresented groups. No matter what, I always emphasize the importance of listening, even when one disagrees. I know I have had victories because I hear, “I never thought about it like that,” at almost every Young Independents meeting. I know I have been successful, at least in some ways, because I see others feeling free to take the initiative, putting ideas I have helped foster into