Culture Corner: Exposure to diverse cultural experiences and perspectives has enriched my life
May 21, 2026
By Leah Campos
Staff Writer
There are experiences that change one’s entire outlook on life. For me, attending the Historically Black Colleges and Universities New York Classic football game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford in September 2022 was one of those moments.
My attendance at this game was serendipitous, as a friend of my father who graduated from Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, D.C., encouraged us to attend.
HBCUs, all of which were established before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, were created to serve Black students during a time when they were barred from attending most colleges and universities. They have a rich history and many notable alumni. They are also known for their highly distinguished sororities, such as Delta Sigma Theta.
That day, I watched students from many HBCUs step, which is a style of dance popularized by historically Black fraternities and sororities.
It made me more eager to sample as many cultural foods as I could and expose myself to a variety of diverse spaces.
Delta Sigma Theta’s performance stood out to me the most, shifting my previous perspective on sororities. I had never understood the draw of a sorority, but Delta Sigma Theta’s energy made me interested in joining.
That fall, my dad’s friend took us to an Indian restaurant called Rasoi in Edison. I was used to eating the Dominican, Ecuadorian and Puerto Rican dishes from my family’s heritage, so this cuisine was unlike anything I’d ever tasted. It made me more eager to sample as many cultural foods as I could and expose myself to a variety of diverse spaces.
This commitment led me to attend an iftar, the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan, in March. The event, which included Christian parishioners and members of the Muslim community, took place at my church in Montclair.
Together, we broke fast and learned about Ramadan and the reasons Muslims fast during their holy month. I learned that pregnant women, the elderly and those who are ill are excused from fasting, with those who are sick making up for those days when they feel better.
I have already been to the Dominican Republic, Italy and Puerto Rico, and I intend to continue traveling internationally as I get older. Knowing about the identities, foods and traditions of people from various races, cultures and religions will help me act appropriately when I visit other nations.
My goal is to be remembered as kind. By being culturally aware, I am confident I can work toward that objective to present myself in a respectful and welcoming way.
