During a Privilege Walk exercise in class, Kayla Dickson felt confused by questions about her personal background and upbringing. She realized some classmates did not have as supportive a home environment as she did, and was hurt that the questions focused on attributes outside of her control like race, gender and family background rather than her character. While the exercise highlighted greater challenges faced by others, Kayla believes people should be judged based on their own actions and merits rather than circumstances beyond their control.

1. Kayla Dickson
FYS 100
Privilege Walk
During the Privilege Walk we all stood in a line and were asked questions about our
experiences growing up with our race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. As well as
questions about our families and homes. During this exercise, I was confused as to why were
being asked these questions. Afterwords, I felt hurt and frustrated. I was hurt because I realized
some of my classmates did not get to grow up in such a warm welcoming home like I did. I was
also hurt because I do not want my classmates who were a lot further back than I was to see
me as some spoiled little privileged girl, because that is not who I am. This also made me
frustrated because the questions we were being asked had nothing to do with me as a person.
They had to do with my race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. I can't help it that I was
born white, just like people of other races can't help their race either. I can't help it that my
parents chose to go to college and provide me with everything I needed. You don't get to
choose what race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation you are, just like you can't choose to
be born to parents who went to college or didn't. You can only choose what you become and
how you treat others. I learned that others around me have it a lot harder than I ever have. With
this, I can continue to lead my life the way I have been taught too, by treating everyone equal no
matter race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.