Featured Image- Vitor Fiacadori

Have you ever been asked “How do dogs taste?”, “Why aren’t you back in your home country?”, and “What river did you cross to get here?” Probably not. I, however, have been personally asked every one of them.

Imagine walking into school knowing that everyone has an arsenal of put downs to say just because of your hair and eye color.

Image by: Edmonton Public Schools

This is what I, and many other people, are going to face every day for the rest of our lives.

It isn’t easy growing up in a society where you are the minority. Everyone looks at you differently and makes assumptions about you.  I know from experience that it is very lonely. You just want to fit in and have friends, but it’s difficult when parents fill their child’s brain with stereotypes about you, because everyone is born innocent.

Image by: jamieskinner00

In elementary school, kids still maintain their innocence and treat you like they would anyone else. And I am blessed to have made a couple good friends who don’t judge me by my race.

That is probably the only time in my life, that I’ve smiled for more than a minute.

Middle school and High school is a different story. You’re elementary school buddies find new people and leave you in the dust. However you cannot do the same because kids start learning about race and issues relating to that. And suddenly, you are viewed very differently.

Half the time you worry about if you are able to sit at a table at lunch. I know I’ve thought that many times.

Image by: James Vaughan

Who would want to express themselves when all that they will receive is comments that make them feel miserable about themselves? I know I don’t.

High school is meant to be a time of adventures and fun. I only wish I could say that. During freshmen year, I was asked, “Your eyes are small, are you Chinese?”, “What did you have for dinner last night? Cat?”, “Why are you so short?”, and much more. How can you have fun when you’re harassed by the fear of someone making a racist comment?

Image by: carlo occhiena

Even teachers who I thought were supposed to accept you openly, regardless of who you are, have made racist remarks to me.

I look around and see my acquaintances involved with their friends. And I think to myself, why don’t people want to be friends with me? Why am I always alone? Eventually it came down the the obvious answer: I’m Asian.

Image by: you me

But with the bad, comes the good. In 9th grade, one day at lunch, my prayers were answered.

I was sitting alone at a table. But then a very nice girl walked across the lunchroom and invited me to come sit with her and her friends. It’s what I’ve wanted for like forever. But some guys I knew were right next to them. I feared what would happen if they saw I was sitting with girls. And I realize I made the biggest mistake of my life that day. I declined her offer, and lost her friendship. It will continue to haunt me every day, because she showed me true kindness and I will most likely never get to tell her how important she was to me and how bad I feel for not understanding how she saw past my race and acknowledged me as a person.

Image by: Live Life Happy

I feel like a weenie, because I failed to show grace under pressure. In other words, I screwed up the chance I had at having a good friend.

This event showed me that even though people can be mean, there are others who truly accept you for who you are. And it helped me understand, that there was nothing wrong with me, but rather how narrow minded society can be at times.

Overall, it’s not easy living in a community where you are the minority. Whatever you do, whatever you say, people are going to judge you because of the fact that you are a different race. I personally think that it is a very stupid reason to criticize someone.

Image by: ssalonso

The Racism. It Stops With Me website shows how racism is a continuing issue.

Despite being different, I have learned to be proud of my Hmong ethnicity and how far I have come. I cannot change who I am no matter how hard I try, and I find the most important thing is that I am happy with myself and who I am.

I’m not saying that everyone goes through this, but I am certain that this is an experience many people can relate to. Perhaps not even people of a minority race.

This video pretty much sums up what I’ve lived through:

The message at the end of the video is what I also would like to say. I would like to thank that amazing girl, my good friends, and my loving family for helping me accept and love myself. Along with having a positive impact on my life.

It is my hope that one day in the future, racism will be eliminated so everyone can feel a sense of acceptance and happiness, because individuality is what makes each and every one of us special. Let’s not stand against each other, but rather stand with each other.

Now sit back, relax, hit that big white triangle, enjoy some Avicii, and whoever you are, have a nice day 🙂