It was only recently when I realized that being part of a minority group really defines someone in today's society. We don't consider ourselves divided by physical looks and where we came from, but if this is true, the news wouldn't glow large headlines reading that another person had been attacked for being different. Being a woman of color is just another reason for why I am who I am, but with this title comes stereotypes, labels, and barriers for opportunities. It isn't just problems with wage gap or dress code; it also means that I can be seen as someone I am not and be punished for it. This is a controversial topic, but if we are people bonded together "regardless of who we are," there would be no need to address this issue.

I come from a family with strict beliefs and stability that grew up on structure and organization. When I was born in America, it didn't seem like much of an issue to make sure that I was raised as a proper girl. My parents would educate me about our culture and teach me ideas they valued, and they expected me to pass these on to future generations. Unfortunately, these teachings clashed directly with the open-minded style of Western philosophies. Living here has not only helped me appreciate my background, but it has also showed me the other side of thinking.

Over the years, I made friends with people who taught me to disobey the rules, people who showed me how to express myself through clothing and music, and people who let me know that the basis of being a child today is to be rebellious and leave a mark on the world. How could I follow these objectives if they disagreed with what I had learned from my family? Of course, I respected both perspectives, but I have had to make tough decisions that showed me how much I value my culture versus my community. This internal conflict was explained wonderfully in the movie "The Namesake," a film that I hold closely to my heart due to how much I can relate to it.

It saddens me deeply that people who experience these internal turmoils have to worry about their safety, too. From shootings to bombings, we have chosen violence as a way to convey that we want peace. We have chosen sides to show that we don't want to be against each other. We have made each other into people of our fears as a way to say that we want to end labels and stereotypes.

Being in a minority today to me means that I am a person learning to take on the world just as everyone else is. I am an everyday person getting ready to start her next day, but so is the rest of the world. Being a minority doesn't give any advantage, but it isn't a drawback to who we are.

It is part of what we are, and what we are is a human.