Dear You,

You are enough. To compete amongst other students for prestigious scholarships, to participate in recruitment, to simply plant your feet firmly upon the ground and take off running. It's 2016 and yet so many of us still face the fear that we may not belong in any sense in a community meant to be inclusive to anyone who desires knowledge. But the truth is, we face problems unique to others finding themselves placed in the position to begin "adjusting" to college.

You are not "making history" or breaking some sort of standard by choosing to further your education. You are doing simply that, furthering your education. Just like anyone else, many of us dreamt of coming to college and finding a world free of preconceived notions but that is not always the case. So this is my letter to you.

You are still valid in your defensiveness. Just because you are in college and college is meant to be a mature place of inclusiveness, that does not always mean it is always the case. This does not mean that you can brush these offenses under the rug. If you experience someone with ignorance to certain aspects of life, do not fear to enlighten them. Do not assume that campus is large therefore you are small. You are large and you are there to make a difference. Sometimes black women can find themselves wearing the weight of their race on their shoulders. Although it is an unfair burden to carry, although people of other races are often times understood the matter already, do not shy away from your responsibility to push the agenda of your importance.

Although finding yourself and understanding your identity in correlation with your race can prove to be a struggle, never give up. Your race is a huge factor in who you are but it also is not all that you are. Finding that balance can help you in understanding to be proud of who you are. It's 2016, your melanin is something beautiful, something powerful, and something inspirational. Seeing it as anything other than that is an injustice to yourself.