The burbs, basketball and bakery

My opinions and views have changed over the years, many people, ideas and places have influenced my thoughts and views. I grew up in a small white suburb, a super close-knit community where everyone knew everything about everybody. Nothing went unnoticed. Greendale, Wi. aka the "bubble" is the segregated place I call home, there were approximately 2 African American students and 3 Hispanic students in my high school. I'm not exaggerating one bit, everyone was white and it wasn't a diverse place to grow-up. From this I kind of grew up with the view that people other then white people weren't as smart or had decent finances, because nothing was diverse in my community I couldn't compare lives because everyone pretty much lived the same life. This created racial classes in my life and I was brain-ninja'd into slowly having these opinions even though no one forced them on me, because I lived in such a segregated community it is just how people (myself included) assumed to think things were.
Other views I have been influnced by is being part of athletics while growing up. I have played all different kinds of sports but mainly focused on soccer, basketball, and track. Since I have been immersed in the sport culture especially at such a young age it is something that is a part of me and is hard to shake, even as a girl. Not all girls are big sports junkies but my dad is a crazy sports fan and I have 2 brothers so my ties to sports is a lifelong one. From this I have created social classes, basically I have grown up thinking that people who don't play sports are weak and girls who cheer-lead and dance are kind of jokes because I had always placed dance and cheer in a non-sport category (I don't feel this way anymore) but growing up playing sports made me stereotype other girls and the choices they made in there free time. Sports culture definitely influence people and my coaches and teammates shaped opinions I had about sports and teamwork. I would say coaches influenced me the most because they dictated how I viewed responsibility and physical fitness. Regardless if it was a good or bad opinion I'm glad to have had coaches in my life so I know how to deal with good and bad people that control aspects of your life at certain times.

Then there is the bakery which has influenced me in a great way (I think). My grandparents own 4 bakeries in Milwaukee which has influence me and my opinions in many ways. First off they are a small business which has given me the insight that not all business are successful and that it takes a lot, lot, lot of hard work and money to go into something you love to do. It has also shown me different culture and respect for others, my grandmother has a diverse group of employees which has shown me a whole different world. I have been brought into a Latin culture and have learned so many new things and have a different perspective then before. The bakery has taught me hard work and also I have become a huge bread snob and won't eat a lot of different (what I feel less quality bread) because of it. That is probably the worst opinion I could have taken from the bakery experience because right now I am a poor college student who can't afford to buy expensive bread.

It is not in the title but going to school here at the U has taught me how culturally unaware I am, which is great because now I have a huge passion and urge to learn and understand other culture. In the past month I have heard awful heartbreaking stories about how certain people left there country to come to school here and learn and experience America. I have so much to learn still and my opinions and views will certainly still be altered.