Ghazzal Hammad - Assignment 22

 Growing up as a minority in a town that had a 97% white population, I experienced a variety of struggles and challenged that shaped who I am today. Being one of a limited number of Pakistanis in the area, I always felt like an outcast. All my friends were of European descent and shared the same culture, beliefs, religions, and values. They all had similar lifestyles and ideals. However, my family's culture was much different, and as a result, my upbringing was significantly different than theirs. I always felt isolated and I struggled to embrace my culture and family. I often felt embarrassed and even ashamed of my upbringing, and I would try to hide it from other people so I wouldn't get made fun of. Always trying to fit in and neglect my culture was exhausting, and once I got a little older, I learned the importance of accepting my culture and background. Being unique and different from others is a good thing -- it makes you interesting and sets you apart from the norm. I am now very proud of my culture and upbringing, and I think college will be beneficial because it will help me find other unique people of different backgrounds. Learning about other people's lifestyles and ethic upbringings is fascinating to me, and I eagerly await meeting new people in college and learning about their experiences growing up.