Hi Black, I’m White.

I am typically stereotyped as an UGG boot-wearing, Starbucks-loving, selfie-taking, “basic” white girl. Sometimes, I am portrayed as dumb or uncultured. Other times, I am shallow and mainstream. Choosing the filter on my Instagram picture will be the hardest decision I make all weekend.

I do not mind these stereotypes, though, because I know you are stereotyped, too. There have been many times when I have joked about being “too white” for one particular activity or another. I mean these jokes to be lighthearted, without any negative intent. I find that humor eases the tension stereotypes often create.

Hi Italian, I’m Irish.

People see my freckles before my personality. I have heard every joke under the sun (ha) about how much sunscreen I probably go through in a single summer or what I look like because I was out in the sun for too long. Despite the ample amounts of sunscreen I apply, I still get referred to as a “lobster” or “tomato” on a regular basis in the summer.

I do not mind the names, though, because I know you are stereotyped, too. People seem to assume all Italians are loud talkers and fantastic cooks. There have been many times when I have asked my Italian friends to cook for me. Coincidentally, they really do enjoy cooking. It was only after I became friends with them I found out they were any good at it. I find that getting to know people is the best way to break down stereotypes.

Hi Boy, I’m Girl.

Ignore any typos you may see – it was hard to see the keyboard through my tears. As you know, I am overly emotional and get way to attached to people and inanimate objects. If I do not explicitly express my feelings, then I am clearly stuck-up. If I am wearing shorts that do not surpass my fingertips, then it’s a yes. Otherwise, I am a prude, so it’s a no.

I do not mind the assumptions, though, because I know you are stereotyped, too. Girls tend to believe all guys only want one thing, and if they do want more, then it will only be until they can find someone better. You are seen as distrustful and deceitful, which is incredibly unfair to many of you. There have been many times I have assumed the worst of you. I do not mean to tease or judge you, but I need to be proven wrong. I find that patience reveals true character and diminishes stereotypes.

Hi Mom, I’m Daughter.

Your daughter.

I am usually late to most things because I like to sleep too much or I get lost along the way. My shirts are frequently wrinkled, and I never have a pair of shoes to match my outfit. I can't cook, nor can I be trusted to work a microwave alone. I have other people pick out the filters on my Instagram pictures because I still can not tell the difference between any of them. I always reapply my sunscreen but always end up with sunburn. I cry from laughing more than anything else, but I am guilty of getting way too attached to the characters of my favorite Netflix shows.

Of course, you already know these things. I am your “stereotypical Mackenzie,” and I encompass some of the stereotypes that are pinned on me by strangers because of my race, ethnicity and gender.

That is why I do not get mad when people make assumptions, though, because I know there are people who truly know me. I laugh the stereotypes off and try to see the bigger picture. In reality, the person stereotyping you has a past, filled with negative experiences and people – people who may resemble me or you. The person judging you may not mean to be so cynical, but it is his or her way of feeling safe. Positive experiences may also lead to stereotyping. There have been numerous occasions when a person has asked me if I had sunscreen they could borrow. They knew to ask the pale girl coated in freckles.

Stereotypes are the faces of experience, but you can turn them into so much more.