So because my skin is white and I am a female, I automatically love Starbucks and own a pair of Uggs? Okay, I may drink Starbucks every so often (or any coffee in that case), but I don’t own Uggs and I don’t drink Starbucks every day. And that’s what it seems everyone believes.

I am a sophomore and I can’t seem to get people to realize that I am my own person. I am not the typical “white girl” who does all of those “white girl things”. I let a jar of Nutella expire in my cupboard. I do not own a North Face jacket. I don’t tan, nor will I ever. I own one pair of leggings, not twenty. Oh, and I hate pumpkin spice anything.

I am not an “ROTC kid” who loves to get yelled at and workout all the time. Just because I am enrolled in ROTC does not mean I am “rude and cocky”, because I have also heard that before. I am not enlisting in the military nor do I plan on it as of right now. I do not have to justify why I am in ROTC, I just am.

They Are Not Who You Think They Are

You’re in AP classes, you’re a nerd. What is a nerd? A person who is smarter than yourself? Someone who wears glasses and has a 4.0 GPA? But why, I ask you, does being smart, liking math, and playing trombone make someone “uncool?” Why does it automatically label them a nerd?

All Asians are perfect. They never fail a math test and can help you in any class.

Every Arab is a terrorist. Because one Arab terrorist group attacked the United States, every Arab you see is automatically a murderer.

All African Americans are in a gang. They break the laws every chance they get and like Kool Aid to go with their fried chicken.

Every hispanic is Mexican. There is no such thing as a purebred Mexican. In Mexico, most Mexicans are a blend of many races. One of the most common is European and Spaniard. Many of them are also African and completely that before anything else. Latinos are proud of who they are and who it is that makes their background what it is. Being Mexican means mixture and diversity.

Every person who wears Ray Bans is a “hipster”. Every white American is rich. Every white Southerner is racist. All Blondes are stupid.

People practice stereotypes like a religion. So and so did this, so everyone that likes blue does it too. No, that’s not how it is. Get that out of your mind.

People are different. Every human has their own story.