When I was younger, I was teased and bullied in school for always having a book in my hand, for wanting to learn, for wanting to succeed. At the time, I couldn't comprehend why. I was just like any other kid at school trying to learn, get good grades, and make their parents proud. I didn't realize the antagonizing difference that they saw, that still divides America to this day.

My ethnicity was frowned upon, being of a Latinx background was labeled "bad."

Thankfully, these feelings of being pushed away from my peers only occurred during my elementary school career. In seventh grade, I was accepted into what's known as an "exam school," meaning that it was one of the three top public schools in Boston. My academic atmosphere changed and I finally felt accepted by my peers. We were all smart kids, perhaps the best in our class back in elementary school but other than that there wasn't a difference between us. My peers were from all different backgrounds and as a Latina, I was thankful for the diversity offered at my school.

At this school, I would spend the next six years carving out academic success. I would find out that I am a strong writer. Words and description were tools to my talent; a talent I didn't know I had. Graduation came and went as I looked forward to starting my college career, I knew what I wanted to major in.

Currently, as a college freshman, I cannot contain my excitement for what the future holds for me. I am ready to dive into my passions for writing and the skill of journalism. I am ready to continue to be a hard working student and achieve my goals.

However, I now feel disappointed and slightly discouraged. After reading Tiffany Martinez's and articles covering her message, I am shocked to know that students of color like me are still questioned of their intelligence. How we are still ridiculed in front of our peers like some kind of pariah, marked as the "other" within a classroom. It's not right.

Having been born and raised in Boston, I have hope hope that people can be open minded, for the most part. I would think open mindedness would be practiced in a classroom at a higher education institution. Inclusiveness should be a top priority.

Hopefully from this, we can foster support and love toward all backgrounds and statuses. As a student body, we come here to expand our knowledge and achieve the goals we have set out for ourselves.

Education is a critical moral of mine. My heritage is my pride and Ecuadorian is a part of who I am. I will not forsake one for the other. In the words of Martinez, "Academia, Love Me Back."