Superficially, my family does not appear to be diverse. We 're all white, and while my parents are divorced, so are about half of all parents in the United States. But upon closer examination, the true influence of a variety of cultures becomes apparent. My grandfather learned an important skill at 12 years old: driving. Sitting on his father 's lap at first and eventually placing books and bricks inside the car to allow him to drive on his own, he learned quickly; on the dusty roads around their house in Honduras, it was perfectly legal. My mom lived in both England and Israel, traveling across Europe. Chased out by the bobbies for working illegally in London and trapped in Tel Aviv, unable to convert shekels to dollars, she has taught me about traveling, living alone, and trust. When the doorbell rings and the Jehovah 's Witnesses are waiting patiently to teach us, my step-sister excitedly opens the door to tell them how proud she is to be a Latter-day Saint as my father and my brother sit in a back room discussing how the age of the Earth must disprove the Bible. …show more content…
Growing up surrounded by different religions, languages, and cultures has allowed me to grow my understanding and perception of the world around me. From the different grammar structures of Spanish and Japanese to the stigma of being a gay teen, my viewpoints are culturally aware and positively open-minded. I am always open hearing how other people experience and contemplate any kind of