As I’ve grown, I’ve been lucky enough to not be discriminated as a Latina. When I have been bullied, it’s been for other reasons, and I could grow from that. But I’d never seen true discrimination, at least until recently.

I was walking back to my dorm from an engineering thing, which lasted much longer than I expected, and it had grown dark. I did what I normally do: place on some Spanish music to calm my nerves and get me into a fit of dancing. I passed a few people on their way to a party, then it was just me alone on the street. Suddenly a black car started to slow down behind me. Immediately I reached into my pocket for my pepper spray, a gift from my roomie in case I ever got into a dangerous situation, and watched it cautiously. Everything seemed bizarre as they got closer to me. One of the windows rolled down and then they shouted “Dirty Hispanic!” and rolled the window back up. At first it didn’t register that they were talking to me. I glanced around and then I understood that they were singling me out. I started to chase it as they started to drive off, thinking if I can just get the license plate maybe I could do something. Then I stopped running and paused. What would I do with the license plate? Who I would I call? Who would I tell? I didn’t have any witnesses and it was never mentioned who to talk to about discrimination, at least not that I remembered at the time. For the first time in a very long time, I felt vulnerable and afraid.

Immediately I went to my friends who comforted me and brought me down from my shock. I was trembling with rage, fear and nearly on the brink of tears. I wanted to call the police, I wanted to call some number and tell them what happened, but I didn’t. I was afraid of being pushed aside because I didn’t have any physical evidence. I wasn’t a sexual assault victim; I was simply someone who was shocked because I had been singled out and verbally assaulted in a sort of a mental drive by. Our school focuses highly on what to do if your sexually or physically assaulted, but what about mentally assaulted? What about alienated, called out and insulted in the dark of the night by strangers?

The morning after, I talked to my parents and my best friend. I let them know what happened. My best friend made it clear that she had my back and I’m so glad for her to be my side in spirit and through thick and thin. I felt better and my parents reminded me “to not let them dull my sparkle.” So with a brave spirit, I contacted who I could about the incident and decided to write my statement before my memory grew grey.

Now, I don’t mean to attack or degrade anyone, and I certainly don’t mean to frighten other minorities on campus. That’s not the reason I’m writing this. I just wanted to say one thing about this: I have heard of a lot of similar actions of hate around campuses, and it does cause me to be alarmed. We shouldn't just ignore these incidents, but tackle them. We all belong on earth. We all have a purpose. and we need to stop focusing on what divides us. Whatever we believe, whatever our actions, everyone deserves compassion and respect. Those are basic human rights, and I believe that they should be shown, especially in the face of hate and fear. Above all else, I believe in love. The love of each other as people, the love of the earth that we dwell in, and the love of God or of the universe or whatever overlooking spirit you believe in. We have to make sure that our sparkle stays strong and that we stand united against the darkness that divides us, now and forever.