Sarah Barber

Reflection on Learning
At the beginning of the semester, we discussed several learning outcomes for this course.
While reading over them again, I've discovered that I've made quite a bit of progress in some of
these areas.
Our class lectures and assigned readings have given me a wealth of knowledge on the
backgrounds of various Asian American groups and assisted me in achieving learning outcome
number one. These resources have taught me some of the cultural practices of different peoples
in their native lands, social/political struggles that have occurred there, many of the top reasons
the different groups have immigrated to the United States, along with the racial oppression that
has taken place here against them. I've found it fascinating to learn about how these Asian
immigrants are responsible for building up the United States and helping it become what it is
today. If it weren't for the Chinese in California, we may not have had the transcontinental
railroad that spanned the country and made it far easier for Americans to settle the west. This
story, and many others like it, have characterized the early days of Asian immigrants in the
United States and its multiple territories. While I feel things have improved drastically as far as
race relations and marginalization of other ethnicities, there is definitely still a long way to go.
The article we read earlier in the semester on white privilege is a good example of what can still
be improved upon in the way of race relations.
Learning outcome number three was met with a combination of this class, along with my
statistics class. It's always really convenient when what you're learning in one class goes hand in
hand with what you've been discussing in another class. This was a wonderful example of this.
Especially when I was assigned statistical article for my reading assignment, rather than being

intimidated by the seeming complexity of such a piece, I was excited to dive into a more
objective work on matters of Asian American issues. Because of the knowledge I had acquired
concerning the proper ways to conduct statistical studies, it was evident to me that the
information contained in the article outlining the study was reputable work and could be used as
a reliable basis for the theories presented. It was really engaging and informative to learn about
the correlation between depression in elderly Asian immigrants and their lack of acculturation.
Most likely my favorite part of the class has been the opportunity I've had to develop in
the area of learning outcome number five. As I've stated in previous assignments, I often think
of different groups of people who could use help, but I had no idea how to even begin. As I'm
not majoring in social work or education, I will likely not be someone who is working for a
living directly with Asian Immigrants or others who may need a social program or some kind of
monetary support to improve their lives, but being in this class there have been many
presentations that included information for organizations that help these groups of people. It is
my desire to volunteer and help those less fortunate in ways that I can. If I were to call up any of
those organizations, I'm sure they would be in need of help from volunteers and be willing to
share with me the information I'd need to offer such help.
I've been taking a personal finance class this semester in addition to my three other
classes, and it is my goal to one day become a financially free individual so that I don't have to
constantly work for money anymore, and I can dedicate my life to helping others. I believe my
finance class has equipped me with some excellent ways of doing that, and this class has given
me some excellent ideas on how I can use that time, and where there is true need.
This class has helped me see that our country can be steeped in stereotypes that don't
encourage us to love other groups of people. I've grown up in Utah for almost my entire life, and

perhaps I've been quite sheltered on this point anyway, but I truly believed that racism, for the
most part, was dead. In my community, and possibly a great deal of this having to do with my
optimistic and idealistic personality, I never saw someone being mistreated or marginalized due
to race. It's been shocking to learn just how much of a disparity there can be between those of
color and white people. With the events taking place in Ferguson, Missouri, right now, it has
been sad to see so much hatred coming from both sides. There seems to be a chicken/egg
dilemma with the issues that exist there. Clearly the black community is outraged by the
decision the grand jury has made in regards to the Michael Brown case, but it has led many of
them to commit acts of burglary, arson, and violence against people who likely had nothing to do
with the situation. There is clearly a disconnect somewhere in their culture that has somehow
allowed these people to justify such actions. However, it seems that the state of these people
may be in part---perhaps in very large part---due to oppression from those in power. There
seems to be a lot of strain between the police force and the black community, but I don't think it's
because one side is evil and the other is completely innocent. It would appear that there is a lot
of discrimination on the part of the officers as well. This is one issue that's solution has only
become more elusive to me after studying more about it. I'm glad to say, though, that because of
this class I have spent more time looking over the news coverage of these events.
It has been a pleasure to learn so much about people who have come from a continent in
the world that I've know relatively little about. Asia has been such a mystery to me for so long.
I'm glad to have the knowledge that I do about this very large continent with it many, many
people, cultures, religions, etc., and to know what those who have moved this way have done to
contribute to American society. It has increased my love for these people, as only learning and
striving to understand someone can do.