On Sept. 1, a naturalization ceremony took place in Louisville where over 100 people from across the world pledged allegiance to our country and received their certificates of citizenship. With so much diversity in the room, it was easy to be reminded of the importance of inclusion on UK’s campus and beyond.

As young professionals, students should make an effort to be aware of the benefits of diversity and promote it wherever possible. While it’s easy to think of diversity as just race, it encompasses much more: age, experience, economic situation and even ideas. 

In fact, one of the best aspects about diversity is its ability to introduce different perspectives on an issue. When taking everyone’s ideas into account, especially those influenced by different cultural experiences, the chances of finding the best possible solution increase thanks to these contributions.

With diversity comes inclusion, because acknowledging the differences isn’t enough. Inclusion efforts can allow everyone involved to feel validated and important to the situation at hand. 

When inclusion is promoted in the classroom for example, students can avoid causing one another to feel disengaged or irrelevant. Feeling valued improves not only morale, but also communication and understanding. These are crucial elements to possess in a classroom or the workplace for a healthy learning environment.

From a purely business-oriented standpoint, being able to communicate effectively in a globalized world economy and understand cultural differences in these interactions is a big advantage in a corporate setting. 

But even if a student is not considering a career in international relations, these are skills that can set students apart in the ever-diversifying communities of America.

UK does a fantastic job at representing our diverse campus community, but there is always room for improvement. The Student Government Association has big plans this academic year to foster trust and communication among minority student groups and university administration.