Ever noticed how people tend to talk about inclusion and diversity all the time? 
Think they are synonymous?
Well, if you dig a little deeper, they are drastically different.
We aim to focus on inclusion in this article.
Been hearing that term a lot, aren’t we?
But, we focus on action, not words. Hence, be sure to know we give full importance to inclusion.
What are they? 
Simply put, diversity means to realize that people are different. Understand and respect their differences. These differences can be based on age, religion, gender, disabilities, sexual preferences, etc.
Period.
On the other hand, inclusion is ‘a fair chance.’ When you offer equality to all based on diversity.
Differences
Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking?
Do they still seem the same? 
Surely, this table will help you understand it better.

                            Diversity                                                                          Inclusion

•     Legally required at places                                       Important to enhance overall performance
•     Representation at your workplace                        Your opinion matters at the workplace
•     Minorities                                                                  Everyone

Boom!
Now you know what the difference is. Thus, to summarize we can say:

• Diversity is the answer to the question “What is the workforce made of?” 
• Inclusion is the answer to the question “How to make that workforce equitable”

Why are They Used Interchangeably?
Frankly, if you are not in a diverse environment there will be no concept of inclusion. One leads to the other.
For example:
If you have not hired female staff members, how can you even include their perspective in policy considerations?
Hence, the point of the matter is that both are important and go hand-in-hand.
Why is Inclusion Important to an Organization?
According to a report issued by Mckinsey & Company, racially and ethnically diverse companies which practice inclusion were 33% more likely to outperform the rest of the companies in the industry.
Following are the highlights of this concept:

• It is not about hiring people from different backgrounds but is a mindset that focuses on providing everyone in the workforce with equal opportunities.
• As a result, the company will get more diverse ideas when they listen to the voice of the employees.
• It’s a chain of events, right?​

So, you can see that the bottom line is that it is a two-way process. Inclusion is important to empower your employees and  important to enhance the performance of the company itself.

​ Our Bar Prep Seminar is scheduled for March 13, 2021 featuring our Bar Prep Partner, Jennifer Duclair The Bar Exam Mentor and Class of 2020 Alum Kishnee Theus, Esquire. Sign up here. 

The challenges that this pandemic creates for everyone, but in particular students, around the world have been difficult to express.  As a student, the force of making my home a classroom was depressing.
 
Are you familiar with the quote: “There is no place like home?” Well, my home is my sanctuary - where I am free from the outside world. However, that changed rapidly in March of 2020 when Covid-19 officially became a national emergency.
 
The act of recreating my living room – where I sat to laugh, binge watch Grey's Anatomy, eat, and relax— into a study and work space was difficult. It quickly became a space of discomfort and stress. The force of replacing my couch with a desk chair, my coffee table to a work desk, and my entertainment center into a printer and file cabinet, was a struggle that was difficult to escape.  I felt like Covid-19 stripped away my experience of being a student, which is the experience I’ve had for the majority of my life.
 
This change has been a curse to my academic progress. But students like myself have mixed feelings about the transition.
 
For example. My classmate, Khadijah Tucker, stated that "being a student during a pandemic has been difficult, but it's been a learning experience. I've had to learn how to study, maintain the information, and take exams while being home with my family." While
 
On the other hand, my friend and fellow law student, Ke’dazia Barber, said that “to be a student during Covid-19 means to be a student who can quickly adapt. It has been challenging yet eye-opening to adapt to an environment that may be the norm for a while."
 
And still, fellow Journey to Esquire students, Breanna Coleman noted that “being a student during Covid-19 had been a representation of susceptibility to change. Transitioning online as a student has prepared us for life as an attorney in an ever-changing society. It has forced me, personally, to be comfortable being uncomfortable and still succeed."
 
Do you feel the same? What are your feeling about being a student during Covid-19? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Email me at info@journeytoesquire.com or follow us on Social Media @JourneytoEsquire on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

 Our Bar Prep Seminar is scheduled for March 13, 2021 featuring our Bar Prep Partner, Jennifer Duclair The Bar Exam Mentor and Class of 2020 Alum Kishnee Theus, Esquire. Sign up here.