Culture shapes our biases and beliefs about people based on their age, gender, race, language, (dis)ability, or income level, often without our realization. We communicate our biases in our world, often unknowingly, through micromessages. The accumulation of micromessages over time impacts a person’s belief in his or her own ability to be successful in a course, class, college, and career. Through interactive and reflective activities on the power of culture on our interactions with students, this session will equip educators with specific strategies to support student participation, persistence, engagement and success.