The Wary

"For high school, I went to a College Preparatory, which had mostly rich, white students. Many of these students had been together since they were children. I had not. During my first year, I struggled for an identity. My mother being Native American, was the easiest solution. I spent the next two years being called names like Tonto, Sitting Bull, and Flying Salmon. While it became tiresome, I felt that it was worth it so that I might fit in. Looking back at it, I thing it was a crutch. I tried to use something exotic about myself to gain acceptance, as opposed to my own merit. Furthermore, I think allowing my classmates to trivialize Native American culture to names and jokes, has left me with a profound distrust of wealthy white male population."