Walking down the halls I feel scared

No one talks to me, but they just stare

Not even a smile or hello greets me

Why do they perceive me as different, why me?

Is it the color of my olive skin?

Why, it must be, I am not white like them

But then, I see an olive girl talking to a white girl and I know it is not my skin

Is it my dark hair, they all have light colored hair

But then, I see dark hair talking to light hair

What makes me not like them?

Why do I feel trapped when I’m here?

I clutch the necklace around my neck, a small heart that my grandmother gave

I treat it like Chester’s kissing hand because it gives me comfort

Why am I different, what makes me different?

Is it my name? It is Arabic for “Faith”, the most important part of “My Faith”

No, it can’t be my name, they believe in God

Is it because of the clothes I wear?

It is summer and I am fully clothed not like the rest

 It has to be the clothes that I wear

Or maybe the color of my eyes, a dull grey

Everyone has blue eyes but then again I see many brown eyes so I know it can’t be that

Maybe it’s because I’m not talking to the boys like the other girls afar, but I know my limits and boundaries

I don’t wish to change myself but I want to be accepted

Why does acceptance seem so difficult?

Is it them, or is it me? Or maybe it’s both

God made me the way I am, but why am I trying to change?

Maybe it’s the food I’m eating. The traditional food that I savor at home

The food that I had been ridiculed for several times at school

The food that I couldn’t wait to learn to cook since I was a child

The bread that my little hands rolled of which my mom savored every morsel

The food that tells a story from where I come from…..

No I won’t blend in, no I won’t mold at all

I will retell the story; I will spice up my life with these flavors indeed

Will proudly pass it on to generations in need

Because I will be me and me is what they’ll see

I won’t have to pretend or hide you see

I will have to somehow find a way, a way to prevail

To make my parents proud of me and not be derailed

The once dull grey eyes now glowed reflecting the admiration they saw in their mentor’s eyes

For once I was being acknowledged for my efforts and sincerity

Someone was finally respecting me for my integrity

The color of my skin that I so desperately wanted to change was radiating with brilliance, mirroring the joy and happiness that my heart felt

I knew in my heart that I had to shine through

The only way to do it was to work hard through and through

To stand up for the ones who had perished before me

No I won’t let that happen, not with me

I will teach them and show them to be proud of whom they are

The strength lies within, whether they are aware of it or not

So let us all rise and strengthen our souls

To voice the stories those were never told

I’ll build my character and nurture it forever

I’ll guard my values more now than ever

The world will be at my feet low and behold

I repeat these words over and over in my head and then I understand

I will never change myself for anyone; I do not need to be like them

My olive skin will stay olive

My dark hair will stay dark

My name will remain, no matter what because faith in God makes me strong

I will dress just as I always have because that makes me who I am

I will eat the food my mother makes me because I love the flavor

I will remain within the boundaries I was always taught

And most importantly I will always remain me because God created me for who I am and I only need to be accepted by Him

I’ll work tirelessly and let my character speak for itself

Regardless of the hurdles and hardships I have to entail

I put the necklace down and walked down the hall with newfound happiness

Chanting “WE SHALL OVERCOME”