ETHN 201 Cultural Autobiography

Hello, I'm Curtis Hines and I'm a 5th year senior at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and I am also on the wrestling team. I was born in Racine,WI but lived and grew up in Waukegan, IL. I went to Waukegan public schools and from elementary all the way to high school, I have always been around people of many different cultures. I have been exposed to a multi-cultural environment my entire life and have made many friends throughout the years that are of many different races and ethnicities. I don't believe that race matters, but I think that everyone is equal and the color of your skin is irrelevant. One of my very close friends happens to be of Asian descent (phillipino) and we have shared many experiences inter-culturally through family events and gatherings that we have spent at one another's houses and other places. He has experienced many of my African American culture and practices, and I have also experienced some of his Asian culture through the food and other events his family has prepared on holidays and other gatherings. I am always excited to meet new people of different races/cultures because I believe that there is always something new I can learn about someone else who has different cultural habits/customs. I like Parkside particularly because it is culturally diverse and there is not one dominant race or ethnicity. This makes for a comfortable learning environment and helps everyone feel welcome around their peers and professors. Also, since I have been naturally been exposed to people of many different cultures, races, and ethnicities I think I have a greater chance of being able to adjust to just about anything that life brings my way. My background allows me to be able to adjust to any environment whether it be majority african american, latino, caucasian, or asian etc.