Cultural

Autobiography

Addie Lottman
Everyone has a story, and everyones story is unique. No two people are exactly alike,
and I believe it is truly important to embrace who you are because there is not one other person
who has experienced every adventure, obstacle, and memory you have experienced. There have
been certain moments, people, and experiences in my life that have shaped me into the person I
am today. I believe my family has provided me with a strong foundation to build my life upon,
and they have provided me with opportunities that have shaped who I am today.
My family is somewhat diverse in that my grandmother was Mexican. My Grandmother
Rica grew up a migrant worker in Texas, and both of her parents were born in Mexico. At family
gatherings we would have Mexican food, and I learned a few things about my Mexican culture.
My family traveled to Granite City, Illinois, which is a small city where many Mexican people
have settled. We celebrated Cinco De Maya with my great aunts and uncles. I learned how
important it is to keep in touch with family and share stories. I listened to my grandmother and
my aunts tell stories. I understood their hardships, yet they shared many laughs. Their hardships
made them strong and appreciative people.
I learned that my grandmother was taught to be a survivor. She spent much of her
childhood traveling in the back of a truck with her twelve brothers and sisters. At Christmas, my
grandmother would be thrilled with an orange and a handmade doll. Everyone in the family had
jobs to do, whether it was working in the fields or caring for one another. Hearing stories like
these taught me so much about how every child grows up differently, and that it is important to
love and work hard. My grandmothers life is an example of how culture can shape ones life and
the lives of everyone it touches. According to Damen, (1987) Kroeber & Kluckhohn, (1952)
Parham, (2002) and Parsons, 1949), Culture is a complex constellation of values, mores, norms,

Cultural Autobiography

customs, ways of being, ways of knowing, and traditions that provides a general design for
living, is passed from generation to generation, and serves as a pattern for interpreting reality
(quoted in Why Race and Culture Matter).
As an adult, my grandmother raised eight children while she worked full time as a
waitress to support the family. She drew strength from her Catholic faith, and she always
remained positive through tough times. Even though they had very little money, she would
invite people in need for Thanksgiving dinner. She taught my dad and his siblings to be hard
working and compassionate people. She also taught me to be compassionate and accepting. My
Grandmother grew up very differently than I did. She always made the best of her circumstances.
I am thankful that I have her as a source of inspiration when it comes to helping and loving
others.
In contrast to the diversity in my family, my school and social environment has not been
culturally diverse. I grew up on the west side of Cincinnati, Ohio surrounded by a loving family.
I consider myself very lucky to have such caring parents who provided me with opportunities to
grow as a learner, person, and athlete. I was fortunate enough to attend private school all my life
until college. Not only did I receive a good education, but also I was raised Catholic, which
became a big part of my culture. It is safe to say that I was not surrounded by much diversity.
Both my grade school and high school were predominately white, Catholic students from around
the same area as me. I only went to school with a total of four black students and two Indian. I
grew up very sheltered and with little exposure to diversity. I was really only familiar with
people who shared the same race, ethnicity, and culture as me. Looking back now, I realize that
this was both an advantage and disadvantage. It was an advantage because I learned a lot about
myself including my beliefs, values and religion. I was able to share these values with my

Cultural Autobiography

friends, family, and classmates. However, not being exposed to other cultures first hand has
hindered me in a few ways. Because I was sheltered, I only learned about other cultures in
textbooks. My faith and family taught me to be accepting of all people.
Even though diversity was limited in my education, I did have a diverse cultural
experience during my senior year in high school. We were required to complete a senior project.
As part of my project, I volunteered at Evergreen Holistic Learning Center as a leader of their
Seed-to-Table Nutrition Program. The Seed-to-Table Nutrition Program and Edible Urban
Garden Project is a unique, hands-on outreach program designed to actively connect students
with the local food system. I participated initially in the Seed-to-table program with second
through fifth grade students from St. Francis Seraph School in over the Rhine. At first, I was
nervous about working with disadvantaged and diverse children, and I worried if I would be a
successful leader. Out of all the kids, there were only two white girls, and the rest of the students
were African American. I was also nervous to see if the students would accept me because my
skin color was different. Keeping an open mind and heart was one of my goals. I was excited to
work with children of a different race and learn more about each of them, despite my nerves.
Majority of the students were excited and happy to be at Evergreen, they were eager to make
flower pots and take a nature walk with myself and some of the other leaders. Some of these
children had never been out of the city, and they thanked me with hugs. I quickly discovered that
these children yearned for knowledge and attention. They were open and accepting and excited
to work with me. Without a doubt the most positive experiences I had with my senior project
were being able to reach out to the inner city children.
Working with children and teachers also opened my eyes to the benefits of a career in
education. I learned that it is rewarding to know you are helping children learn. I felt a sense of

Cultural Autobiography

accomplishment after spending time with the children and seeing the smiles on their faces. One
student even complimented me by saying I was a great teacher. My confidence grew with each
student I helped. I learned to have patience with the children because it takes time for many of
them to understand directions and goals. I was surprised by how much my confidence increased
by leading the students in their activities.
Another important part of working at Evergreen, was the relationship I built with
Evergreens director, Joan Barlage. She and her husband, who unfortunately had died a few
years ago, had dedicated their life to education. They established a charter school in Cincinnatis
inner city to help black and impoverished students. After her husband died, Joan started
Evergreen to help those same students learn about nature and nutrition. I learned so much from
her as I observed her dedication and hard work. She dealt with her students with compassion and
patience. Her dedication was such an inspiration to me and I was fortunate to have her as a
mentor.
When I consider the experiences with my family and what I learned working at
Evergreen, I am driven to become a good teacher. Because my grandmother was able to teach me
by her example, I feel that I have grown into a stronger person. When working with the children
from the inner city, I felt a strong passion and desire to help them rise from their circumstances.
Being a teacher is a way for me to share what I have learned every day.
The cultural diversity in my life has been chiefly from my grandmother and my
experience at Evergreen. Joan Barlage showed me how rewarding it is to open yourself to those
less fortunate and face challenges every day. My grandmother taught me about the importance of
sharing life experiences and learning from those experiences. These people and events have
largely shaped my motivation to become a teacher.

Cultural Autobiography