“It is what it is.”

As an incoming high school freshman, I had spent the past three years being a sheltered, 4.0 student from whom more was expected. I’m from a low-income family, and I arrived at school with the knowledge that my mother’s goal is for me to be a first-generation college student. I finally stepped foot on campus, and it was buzzing with excitement, along with a sense of discomfort in the atmosphere that was hard to pinpoint. Suddenly, I was hit with so many things I’d never experienced before, and it felt as if my security blanket was snatched off of me. Racism, drugs, sex, violence: all things I wasn’t mentally, physically, or spiritually ready for.

I come from a black minority, which I claim — and which others claim stereotypically. Students walk around spitting offensive words at me or claiming that my mannerisms, pattern of speech, or life experience deem me “light-skinned” or “white-washed,” for whatever that means. I am segregated into a pyramid of black people who are at the bottom because of what clothes I wear or what music I listen to. I found it so utterly ridiculous that I decided to ignore it.

I asked family members their opinions of my situation, and in general they all said the same thing: “That’s high school for ya,” “It is what it is,” and “Welcome to high school.” Now I have accepted the fact that everyone stereotypes, even when they don’t mean to, because that’s just how it is and always will be. There’s no real way that fully breaking the barriers of racism is even possible because it dates back to the beginning of time and only gets worse by generations.

In my experience, with racist situations like these, the worst thing you can do is retaliate because it only fuels those who are in the wrong. I encourage you to stand up for what you believe in. Don’t back down. Be strong — resilient. This may seem unbiased, but my whole high school experience so far is unbiased. So, do what’s best for you because you’re the only person who matters at the end of every day. Don’t let stereotypes take control of your day. What breaks you down also builds you up.