Example of an “A” Cultural Resume
Tom
(I’ve removed Tom’s last name to respect his identity. Include your last name when you submit your
resume.)
Italian US American
Cultural Identity Search
When I was a child, I didn’t care for many of the traditions my family practiced and would find the
routine monotonous. This influenced my communication style because I ignored or became defensive
if others shared their traditions with me. Since I was in the unexamined stage of my cultural identity, I
felt threatened by others who had a strong sense of who they were and what they believed. As I reflect
on this, I’m sorry to discover that I lived in ignorance and fear of others. I would shy away from
interactions with people who were not “like” me.
As I’ve grown older, I have come to enjoy my journey of discovering my unique cultural identity. I
engage in my cultural traditions with an open-heart. I practice most of my Italian traditions with my
family and I am learning that my communication style is Italian - U.S. American. I am loud,
outspoken, look directly at people when I communicate. I use vivid nonverbal communication and
embrace people with a big bear hug when I meet them for the second time (not the first time, there are
social norms in the US that have taught me to respect other people’s personal space)! The richness of
both cultures had given me the roots and the courage to look forward to change.
(Instructor’s Note: There is only one description under each cultural pattern because last year,
someone plagiarized this student’s resume. You need to provide a description for EACH belief, value,
and norm that you list. Below, the cultural pattern in blue corresponds with the blue description.)
Beliefs There is a supreme being called, God.
Humans must live in harmony with nature to coexist.
Explain in detail how each belief influences you communication style.
I worry that we do not respect each other enough, nor do we take care of Mother Earth. The high
degree of pollution that surrounds us worries me. I think we are slowly killing ourselves due to our
greed for consumption. In my daily life, I try to treat Mother Earth with more respect than the average
person in hopes that I may balance out some of the destructive behavior of my fellow human being.
When I communicate this belief with others, my goal is to teach them to recycle, prevent littering, and
reduce the impact they have on the earth in their daily routines. I often engage others in conversations
about the importance of preserving the place where we live. I offer reference materials on where
others can get more information about being more “earth focused”. I am not afraid to debate others
about this topic. I am very passionate about saving ourselves!
Values Individuals have the right to pursue their happiness without infringing on this right of others.
 It is important to support each family member despite what you think of their actions.
Explain in detail how each value influences you communication style.
My values affect the way I communicate by essentially providing the framework for my judgments of
other people as either negative or positive. I believe my family is the most important group in my life.
No matter what happens in our family, it is vital that everyone supports and sticks by everyone else.
Everyone makes mistakes. It’s inappropriate for any family member to cast another member aside just
because they disagree with a particular action by that person. It’s up to the entire family to nurture
each other so they live a moral life. This value affects my communication with others sometimes in a
negative way. Unfortunately, I have a lot of friends who believe kicking their children out of their
home is the only way to “teach them a lesson”. I do understand that some of my friend’s children are
troubled. However, I disagree with their approach to “fixing” the problem. Children need to be
nurtured, understood, and supported. When I talk to my friends about my family’s approach, we often
have to quit our conversation because we do not see “eye to eye” about how to raise a child. I think
too many parents shrug off their responsibilities on others, e.g. the school system, politicians, the fast
food industry, and the media. I am in direct control of my kid’s upbringing. It is up to me to provide
them the support they need to grow into morally conscious adults.
Norms Everyone should greet each other with a smile and handshake.
One should eliminate as much vulgarity from their dialogue with others as possible.
Explain in detail how each norm influences you communication style.
Growing up in the US, I have learned that one should greet others who you know warmly with a
handshake and a smile. You should also look directly into someone’s eyes. If I saw a friend I had not
seen in a long time and I offered a handshake that they begrudgingly accepted, I would think that they
do not care for me. I would make sure that the conversation we had was short, I would offer little
details about my life, and I wouldn’t offer a comment that I look forward to seeing them soon. I would
be more indifferent toward them if I were to see them again, or not even acknowledge them, which
would be my method of sanctioning them for violating my norms.
A situation that taught me about this norm happened to me recently. I saw a good buddy of mine that I
hadn’t seen in a year. He didn’t smile nor look at me as I warmly greeted him. I kept my conversation
short and strolled away feeling offended. Soon after this chance encounter, I ran into another friend
who happened to know the buddy I ran into earlier that day. I told her about the incident. She told me
that he had lost his mother two weeks ago and was deeply troubled by her loss. I felt terrible. I realize
that my interaction with him was guided by how I think people should properly behave upon meeting
an old acquaintance. After reading the chapter, I now realize that my norms are important, but I should
also look for other interpretations of why some people may violate them and not hold it against them.