Migration, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is the movement of people to somewhere new in order to find different (and often better) living conditions. This definition, however, is seemingly impersonal. It focuses on only the physical reasons for migration, which are important but not the focal point. I would instead argue that the importance of migration is not the physical aspects but instead the mental. Moving to new places is an experience, a showcase of people who are different from oneself. As such, the migration of culturally diverse people leads to the rapid development of communities, ultimately expanding cognitive understanding of those cultures and people which increases one’s open-mindedness and creativity.
Figure 1 displays the city hall of Monticello, Georgia in about 1908 (Beeland). As one could see in the picture, this town was extremely small and probably just founded. Almost no one inhabited this land, and it was settled by only white people. However, Figure 2 is what the town looks like now (Harrison)! This is an entirely different image, having been taken in 2023 (Harrison). People, cars, buildings. In a little over one hundred years, the town grew exponentially. The United Nations (UN) webpage on migration claims that “migration is a powerful driver of sustainable development” for communities (“Migration…” 2023). How exactly is that the case, however? Well, personally, I was one of those migrants. I moved around the United States my whole life and eventually wound up in Monticello. There, even in the short two years I lived in the city, I witnessed even more growth. I heard people speak of it: “Our city is growing so fast!” I was not so sure, until I paid attention to the school. Each day, more and more people joined my class. People of different cultures, notably. I met a diverse group of people. I believe that this introduction of strong diversity improved my schooling experience. It gave me the opportunity to connect with those of different cultures, to make friends with them. This allowed me to develop a more open mind, which is a vital skill almost everywhere. Whether in school or work or simply socializing, an open mind allows one to think more creatively and extraordinarily. I noticed that one assignment in my Spanish class was so much more interesting than other school assignments. Our presentation was thorough, interesting, vivid, and exciting. This was brought on by both the new perspectives of my diverse classmates and my bouncing of ideas off them. This is a prime example of how diversity fostered my creativity in school. Though, this experience was not exclusive only to school. One need only look at the city square to see that is the case: cultural restaurants, fast food chains, local shops, thrift stores. All these businesses arose from flocks of diverse people moving to Monticello. Without migration, the city would still be extremely small and far less diverse than it is today. This diversity allows for more people to experience this expansion in cognitive development. There are many places that foster a sense of diversity that accelerate this process. One such place is a college campus, Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech is an extremely diverse school. That is evident the moment one steps on campus. The school accepts applicants from all over the world, from different backgrounds, and from different financial situations. Figure 3 is just a snapshot of the diversity of Georgia Tech’s campus, displaying a mural of different cultures all working together overlayed with various types of people walking to their classes (Harrison). This mural stuck out to me because it is an accurate representation of the study body on Georgia Tech’s campus: all of these different cultures all working together to solve the world’s problems. Just as I experienced in my small hometown, these Tech students experience near culture-shocks every day. Thus, they, too, gain a sense of open-mindedness. One study by Forbes claims that, regarding large businesses, “56% strongly [agree] that diversity helps drive innovation” (Egan 5). The study goes on to argue that differing perspectives from different cultures develops more creative ideas. In fact, the study states that varieties in culture are not only beneficial, but “necessary” (Egan 19). It is not a far cry to believe that this applies also to a college campus. Students, when surrounded by others from foreign perspectives, begin to develop a unique perspective themselves. This introduction of new perspectives, as argued by Egan, fosters an incredible sense of creativity. Figure 3 illustrates this beautifully (Harrison). In the mural in the picture, one can see people of all races, genders, and professions working together (Harrison). Whether that work is actively collaborating on a math problem, a science experiment, or simply building a campus community, the mural depicts the unity of so many unique people. I specifically took the photo in the setting that it did to capture the typical campus experience during class change. In this dynamic setting, one can view several students walking about the mural. The element of people to the mural actively demonstrates what the mural is attempting to convey: the collaboration and connection of people and cultures. Given the study’s conclusions, is that not the perfect idea for a college campus? If diversity forges creativity, a diverse student body is perfect. If Georgia Tech is any true indication, diversity really is the foundation of innovation, being a melting pot of numerous cultures.
Ultimately, the idea of diversity in a population is a key component in the prosperity of said population. Exposure to new perspectives, brought forth by migration from place-to-place, allows one to be more open-minded and leads to a higher level of formal thinking and creativity. This is both true in remote locations like a small town in Monticello, Georgia and in a sprawling university campus. In effect, a large sense of cultural diversity creates a sort of mental diversity – leading to interesting innovation. Diversity is the catalyst to broaden one’s horizons and connect with people different from oneself, developing one’s own complexity of thought which leads to a more creative and thoughtful mind.
Works Cited
Beeland, W.J. “A Historical Look at our Nation’s Count Courthouses through Postcards.” Figure 1,
2016, courthousehistory.com/gallery/states/georgia/counties/jasper.
Egan, Mary E. “Global Diversity and Inclusion Fostering Innovation through a… – Forbes.” Forbes.
images.forbes.com/forbesinsights/StudyPDFs/Innovation_Through_Diversity.pdf.
Harrison, Bryant. Figure 2. 4 Sep. 2023. Figure 3. 6 Sep. 6. 2023. Author’s Personal Collection.
“Migration and Sustainable Development.” International Organization for Migration, 2023,
www.iom.int/migration-and-sustainable-development.