The Importance of Ethnic Studies by Isabella

The Importance of Ethnic Studies by Isabella - September 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I think of future education, I think of diversity. I hope that in the next ten years Ethnic studies is a required course for all students grades 9-12. One might wonder what Ethnic studies entails, ethnic studies is a versatile academic field that teaches the social, cultural, and historical experiences of different racial and ethnic groups. This course's goal is to foster critical consciousness by providing an inclusive curriculum educating and helping students understand the systemic inequalities people of color in the United States have gone through. This is not political nor controversial, this is simply knowledge, and knowledge is power. With the knowledge of Ethnic studies the future generation will be more progressive and understanding rather than letting the past be forgotten about, and history repeats itself. This topic has always been important to me as a Mexican American who never really learned about other cultures and races in school, even though they have such an important impact in our countries history and how our country is today. I think that if Ethnic studies was a required course, more students would be aware and informed on the history of their country, and important stories such as the zoot suit riots and the Spanish mission system. With this course, I truly think the future will be in great hands.