I attend Mississippi State University. It's one of the most diverse Universities in the Southeastern Conference. I could not be more grateful for those two facts.

I am so thankful that I not only got to grow up surrounded by people who acted, thought, grew up, and looked drastically different than myself, but that I got to go on to attend a University with some of the highest rates of cultural and ethnic diversity in the Southeast United States.

Diversity is critical for each and every person, no matter their appearance, upbringing, or future. Surrounding yourself with people with a wide variety of life experience in every sense is so important for fostering growth in communication skills- whether in group settings, interpersonal settings, or a personal setting. Additionally, when we encourage relationships between each and every kind of person, we're encouraging empathy, partnership, and trust. If we can foster the growth of these concepts in our day-to-day lives, we're only strengthening our abilities to work together.

A simple but necessary idea to recognize when it comes to diversity is how important it is to have leadership that represents every part of its constituency. Many of us take for granted the ability to look at the people who spearhead organizations or establishments and find someone who relates to us in more ways than not. Being able to see ourselves in positions we aspire to is one of the strongest inspirations in the world, and therefore we have to make it our mission to continue to demand diversity among leadership. If not, we risk losing future leaders, trailblazers, if only because they didn't believe someone like them could make it.

Without diversity of thought, we would not be here in the condition we are today. We need differences of opinion, constructive arguments that lead to powerful solutions, leaders that fight that much harder because they know what it's like to be overlooked. Without diversity, in every sense, we are stagnant. We would not grow. We would not learn how to empathize, to communicate, to engage, to listen.

So next time you look up and you find yourself surrounded by people who are just like you, challenge it. Figure out what steps led you to being in that position, and reject them the next time. Find a new place. Be courageous.