Four years ago, someone would've probably asked "Where is Flint, Michigan?" However, today, the first thing that comes to mind is how contaminated my skin must be.

When you attend a university where a vast majority of students are from everywhere except Flint, it gets annoying constantly explaining your circumstances, especially when your peers realize you're black and not from Detroit.

On April 25, 2014, Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan, approved a switch of water supply to the Flint River.

The Flint River, where there isn't an ounce of nutrients or clear water available. But who knew, right?

Families have and still are affected, mentally and physically, to this day due to lead poisoning, but I am not one of them.

So please do me a favor by not giving the "sincerely concerned" face, asking if my water is still brown, or even the look of disgust when I say where my hometown is.

I was born in Flint and spent years living there before moving to a small city right outside of it, where our water is completely separate from theirs.

But having to explain my water supply because of the look of disappointment or concern in someone's face is inexcusable.

It is not a contagion and your sympathy is not required by my simple response to "Where are you from?"

Do not define me first by my water and confuse my hometown as less fortunate, penurious and incapable. The city of Flint needs clean water, not pity parties.

In other words, to assume that I have been affected, I'm not doing fine or that I want to explain how my city's water has been contaminated is not OK.

I am still a normal student, attending MSU, with characteristics of my own. Ask me about anything else.