Not here. Not there.

        When people look at me they see a girl with brown skin, black hair and dark brown eyes. I am quickly identified as Mexican and/or Latina. This label is part of my identity, but it does not define who I am. To many people in this country I am not fully American though I was born here. I am not the belonging of this melting pot. In fact I am said to not work as hard, not be as smart, or as pretty as any of my other competitors. Thankfully, not everyone is this way, but there are many that look down upon me because of my race. This does not discourage me, but only motivates me to pursue a higher education.

        When people look at me they see a girl with brown skin, black hair and dark brown eyes. I am quickly identified as American, “guerita” meaning blondie, or “de alla” from over there. To the native born Mexican I will never be fully Mexican. I will always be looked at as a visitor and not a native. I will always be looked at as arrogant, vain, and rich because I happen to be born in the United States Of America. Again, thankfully not all people see me in this way but there is a handful that still do.

        When people look at me they see a girl with brown skin, black hair and dark brown eyes. I am not Mexican and I am not American. I do not belong here and I do not belong there. When I see myself I see a hard working, motivated, persistent, determined and compassionate human being. I see myself as a citizen of the world. I find it unfair that I have to label myself. I find it unfair that others have to label me.
        As human beings we are all labeled. We are labeled depending on our ethnicity, religion, political party, etc. We are obsessed with labeling! We have been taught to label ourselves and others since we entered school. This is why here in the United States I am labeled as Mexican and everything that comes along with that name. This is also why to the native Mexican I will always be American, a “gringa” as they may put it. We don’t know any better but to label others.

        Being the person that I am I feel like everyone should have an opportunity to prove who they are. Usually this process is a life-time process, but it is cut short because of labeling. I would like people to pay attention to who I am and not what label I identify myself with. Before even noticing this pattern I was just being myself. After I noticed nothing changed. Sure, I have came to the conclusion that I will never be fully accepted in either place or by either people, but I am just fine with that. I am more aware of my surroundings, but I am definitely still the same. I work hard in everything I do every single day. I do not tolerate discrimination. I speak what I believe and respect what I do not. I love being Mexican and American. I love being a citizen of the world and of the human race.