Diversity is a term that I was exposed to at an early age. This is because I am mixed. My mom is white and my dad is black. When I was younger, I really did not know about race. I knew who my parents were and what they looked like and just assumed my sisters and I simply looked different. This changed when I was in middle school.

I remember one specific time when we were talking about race and I mentioned I was black and people full-on started laughing at me and calling me a liar. It was not until one of my friends supported this fact, that everyone believed me. I thought that would be the end of the conversation. However, it only got worse from there. People proceeded to make fun of me and call me things such as a "half-breed" and "mulatto". Obviously, hearing those words was hurtful, but more so, I was mad as this was the day I learned that racism was still very much real and alive.

One phrase I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has said it to me is "You're the whitest mixed girl I've ever met." What does that even mean? How am I supposed to act so that I can be considered "black enough"? Because the fact of the matter is I'm not half-black or half-white. I'm not half anything. I'm white and I'm black. Nothing more and nothing less.

I love that I have been exposed to two completely different cultures. In today's world, the ability to look at something from a different perspective is crucial to understanding other people's beliefs and thoughts and because of who I am, I can do that easily.

I am so proud of where I come from. I embrace the way I look because it is what makes me unique. I hope that every single person in the world can feel this way at some point in their life, no matter what the color of their skin is because at the end of the day that is all it is, a color.