1. Diversity in Counseling Valerie Ditter

2. Who am I … I am a 36 year old Caucasian female. I have two children that I am raising primarily on my own. I have lived in Fond du Lac my whole life. I went to public schools and graduated in 1995 from Goodrich High school. In 1997 I graduated from Martins school of Hair Design. Currently I'm enrolled at MPTC in the AODA program.

3. Where did it begin… During the 16 th century the Gillardon family fled Italy because of religious persecution. They settled in Bretten, Germany. This is a picture of the family crest. Gillardon is my maternal grandmothers side if the family.

4. My great grandparents Berta and Wilhelm Gillardon. They married in 1906 and had three children. The second daughter is my great grandma Ruth. Although he dreamed of being a baker. Wilhelm provided for his family by calculating interest tables for banks. After his wife died he remarried and had three more children.

5. In 1935 my great grandmother married Otto Kamm. They had three children. Gisela, Klaus and Otto. Gisela is my grandmother. As an adult she worked for an American insurance company. This how she met my grandfather James while he was in the Army. They married in Germany in1956.

6. My grandparents had four children and after moving around a lot due to my grandfather being in the army they settled in Fond du Lac. They bought my great grandfather's farm which is were my grandmother still lives. My grandfathers parents were both born and raised in Fond du Lac and it is believed that they are descendants from Prussia.

7. My parents married in 1977 when they were 19 years old. We lived in a three bedroom house in Fond du Lac. When I was in the sixth grade they built a house in the country and we moved. My little brother was also born. I was raised celebrating Christian holidays with German Influences like sauerbraten for Christmas dinner and hiding a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree. We also celebrate St.Nick’s day.

8. Who am I becoming… German culture has played a big role in my life. I have come to appreciate the knowledge my Oma has and that she has all this valuable information to share with me and my cousins. I am becoming more aware how culture and family experiences can make a person who they are. I want to continue to learn about my own culture as well as others. I also want my children to know where they came from. Even though I was not raised in a religious family I am becoming aware of the importance it plays in a persons life.