Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I was different. People looked at me and my family different. I didn't get it. I mean, I knew I had brown skin, dark eyes, dark curly hair. Yet, I wasn't so different.

Or at least that's what I thought. I moved to Missouri right before Kindergarten. I was ready to make friends since I left the ones I had behind in Texas. Yes, Texas, I was born in Houston, Texas, not Mexico. Shocking right?

Anyway, on my first day of school when I looked around, I realized that I stood out. The very frail-looking teacher gently grabbed my hand and showed me to what table I would be sitting at.

I remember her asking what my name was and then she repeated it to the people that were already sitting at the table. I smiled and just sat down. I was so nervous and did not want to be there.

The first thing that the girl I was sitting next to said to me was "wow your hair is so curly, I wish mine was curly." I smiled and I told her that I wished I had blonde straight hair like hers.

At this moment, I didn't feel so different. When I went out to the playground I didn't see many other colored people, but I didn't care. I loved the school.

Let's fast forward to the times of today. The times where we are older, wiser (well some), more curious (as if that was possible). High school, now college.

I didn't think that I would have to experience the things that I experience at this age. Yet, people never cease to amaze me. I guess I know what it is that makes me stick out, I look at it every day in the mirror when I wake up and get dressed for work.

I know that if my mother is around I am going to speak to her in Spanish, and get stares. I know when I go to Walmart, I will be one of maybe 3 colored people there shopping. I know that when I walk into the ladies room at work I will be the only Hispanic in there.

It's crazy to think that I was treated better in kindergarten than I am now. And by the way, when you ask me "What are you?" you look like a dumb ass.

Yes, I get it, I do not look like I am from here, that's because I am not. Don't ask me if I speak Mexican (yes that one has been asked multiple times). If you ask where I am from and I say Texas doesn't respond with, "No like I mean, where are you from?"

You girl, are making only yourself look like an idiot. I have two parents from Mexico, I am from Texas. Also if you ask me if my parents are legal you might just not get a response at all.

The point is, I am not an alien from a different world. I would like to be treated just like you would treat a white person. I understand that you can be fascinated because there aren't many in Lebanon, Missouri. I'm ethnic, and it's not that deep.