The Warrior Within

I believe in myself. I have been looked down upon by people on the street that didn’t know me and even my own peers all because of who I am. I come from an immigrant family although I was born here and I am considered “American” I’m always thought as less than others. For example when I was thirteen my friends and I were at a McDonald’s grabbing a bite to eat after school when a white man, of approximately forty years of age, for some reason spoke to me and said “applying for a job son?” looking puzzled I answered “no”. He then spoke again saying “well you should start now because this is all your kind actually does a good job at?” his words hit me like an iron stake through the heart. I was being put down for being a minority, being a Latino. I barely had any time to retort before he had left; his words made my heart sink like the great and indestructible Titanic. But I thought it over and I knew that I wasn’t going to let simple words make me hit rock bottom; I have always tried my best and will always, no matter what the situation is. In school I have always been thought as less to, especially because my best friends are Asian. A lot of people are stereotypical and think that I made them my friends because I want to copy their work and ask them for the answers, but I don’t. Even my two best friends make fun of me for being the “different one”, sometimes it’s funny and sometimes it’s not. Sometimes they’ll tell me that the only competition in class for them is one of our peers that happens to be Asian, while I have about the same GPA and grades in class as they do. It becomes annoying hearing it over and over and over and over and over until I can’t take it anymore and I react, I leave a metaphoric path of destruction, wounded bodies, broken dreams and hatred. As soon as I do that I simply remind myself “Its ok, just prove them wrong”. I believe that I am here fighting this vigorous battle, to stare defeat in the face and tell it to give me its best, for I am not just another regular Latino I am here for something more. I am here for the glory. I am here for the happiness. I am here to set a goal. I am here to be who I am. I am here and I am strong. I will not be another push over. This I believe.