rotnote cultural aw-areness

do not know 4% yes 22%

''Life''

by Tara Gilpin guest writer

Life isn't about keeping score.

It's not about how many friends you have Or how accepted you are.

no 74% f you are a minority student, do you hink non-minority students are sensiive to the needs of minorities? yes 59%

If you are a non-minority student, do you think minority students segregate themselves from from non-minority students?

by Callista Nurimba guest writer

An obvious, yet seldom asked question is, "What do international students want?" I see this question in your eyes every time you look at me and I wait and wait until you ask it. I thank those who dared because it means a lot to me.

How about you? Why did you avoid me? Is it because I have an accent you are afraid you would not understand? Is it because I have a yellow skin tone and dress differently? Or maybe because you are scared of offending me with that question?

I come from another side of the world. It is an exciting part of the world where summer never ends. We speak a national language that has no tenses and approximately 300 other tribal languages. We are unhappy with our government and we have no freedom of speech. We do have civil wars, discrimina-

Trying to fit in without losing identity

tion, hunger and poverty. Our arts are rich and diverse, yet we, too, import sound and visuals from other countries. We know all about the Oscars, the Grammys and MTV. Are you still scared?

I came here to receive a higher education, possibly better than I will ever get at home. So when you see me missing parties and studying a lot, do not blame me. It takes me longer to read and write in English.

All I want is to do well in school, because I really appreciate being here, in the land of opportunities. I want to learn what is so great about the American Dream. I want to see how people can be so daring in their speech and fashion, so maybe I can discover something in me I never knew I had.

Do not get me wrong, I do not want to be an American. I am proud to be me, and part of me is where I come from.

I would not trade my identity for anything in this world. I think it's cool to be me. But to be accepted as me is even better. That is why I wanted to understand what exactly you mean when you say, "he has a green thumb."

I also want to share my experiences living in the countries I have lived in. Maybe I can teach you a thing or two in another language and cook a dish from my country. Maybe you will like it, maybe you won't. Will you take that chance?

Are you still scared?

One thing to remember always: I am a human being just like you. I may look, sound, dress and think unlike you, but I have a soul, emotions, passion, desires, hopes and fears just like you. Are you still scared?

Not about if you have plans this weekend of if you're home alone.

It isn't about who you're dating, who you used to date, How many people you've dated, or if you haven't been with anyone at all.

It isn't about how you've kissed, It isn't about sex.

It isn't about who your family is or how much money they have Or what kind of car you drive. Or where you were sent to school.

It's not about how beautiful or ugly you are, Or what kind of clothes you wear, what shoes you have on,

Or what kind of music you listen to.

It's not about if your hair is blonde, red, black or brown, Or if your skin is too light or too dark.

Not about what grades you get, how smart you are, How smart everybody else thinks you are.

It's not about what clubs you are in or how good you are at your sport.

It's not about representing your whole being on a piece of paper

And seeing who will accept the written you. LIFE JUST ISN'T.

But life is about who you love and who you hurt. It's about who you make happy or unhappy purposefully. It's about keeping or betraying trust.

It's about friendship, used as a sanctity or a weapon. It's about what you say and mean, maybe hurtful, maybe threatening.

About starting rumors and contributing to petty gossip.

It's about what judgements you pass and why. And who your judgements are spread to.

It's about who you've ignored with full control and intention.

It's about jealousy, fear, ignorance, revenge. It's about carrying inner hate and love, letting it grow and spreading it.

But most of all, it's about using your life to touch or poison other people's hearts in such a way that could have never occurred alone.

Only you choose the way those hearts are affected, and those choices are what life's all about.