This has been translates by the author.  It originally appeared in the April 28 issue of “Ursus” in Spanish. 

I am writing this to send a message of equality of all people. My life as a Latina in this school is really good, but there are things in this community that need help. There is not much diversity in this school, and I think that is why some people have trouble accepting people of other races, religion, gender and even different sexual orientations. In my life I have been told that I can not speak Spanish because I am in the United States, and there is no place for that language here.

The reason that I speak in Spanish is to speak in many cities with many people like my family because they can not speak English. I live with many cultures in my life, and I talk a lot with others about things of my culture. I help people in Spanish class, and the language has a rich and interesting history. However, there is a cost to speak this language here in the United States; you need prepare for comments of ignorance and sometimes hatred.

I can not get away from these people because they do not want to realize that not all Spanish speakers are Mexicans. In some cases this is true, but not for me and for others. Now with these people at school, I have fear of my language and culture. I do not want to talk about the culture of a Venezuelan because close-minded people can only can imagine tacos, burritos and quinceañeras, which are of Mexican culture. And all those things are good, but this is not my Venezuelan culture. I have a different culture. People who think this can not respect other languages and cultures. They can not see that many people have their own cultures.

I have a story of my experience with this problem. Many times in Spanish class, students have asked me, “Why are you in Spanish class if you are speaking?” And the answer is that I do not speak fluent Spanish. I have difficulty with grammar. Besides, I’m in Spanish class because I can be and is my decision is not your problem. Leave me alone because I have to be up to your ideals of what is supposed to make a Latina.

In this school, some students do not know how to talk to people who are different from them; therefore, people who are different are afraid to be themselves, and they do not want to express their personalities and culture. We all need to eliminate hatred. We need to help each other because we can not be happy when there is no respect and equality. We all know that in this school most people are white, and there are not many Hispanics, blacks, Indians and Chinese, there are only a little. This is not the problem; the problem is the way we treat others. We need to help and fight. We need to work and learn together. In Westport, there are some people who create an unpleasant environment and this bothers everyone. We need to avoid the judgement and accept all differences from people who come to this beautiful place to create a new life.