Chosen experience: Went to a church or synogogue or some type of religious church
For this experience, you will select an activity or function where your attendance will make you a minority. Your minority status could be in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, faith, etc., but if you are already familiar with being a minority in one way (e.g., being a person of color at SJU) you should select an activity that makes you a minority in ANOTHER way, e.g., going to a gay bar if you are heterosexual or attending a synagogue service if you are not Jewish. The experience is to be chosen FOR this assignment; please do not write about an experience in which you were a minority in the past.
The written component of the project consists of a 3-page paper (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font) and should be submitted either as text on the Assignment page or uploaded.
The reflection paper should address the following:
Where did you go (name of place and address)?
When (date and time)? For what event, activity, or function?
Why did you choose that experience?
In what way were you a minority?
What thoughts and feelings did you have about the assign before going?
Did you go alone? If not, who accompanied you?
Did you participate or merely observe?
What thoughts and feelings did you have while you were there?
Did you act differently than you usually do in similar situations? If so, how so, and why do you think you reacted that way?
Was it obvious that you were a minority? If not, did you let others know, or just try to blend in? Why or why not? If your minority status was obvious, what was it like to be unable to hide?
How did the majority treat you?
How did this experience impact your understanding of what it is like to be in the minority and/or how does it compare to your previous experience as such?
