Ethnically, I identify as being “mixed”. My paternal heritage includes black, Puerto Rican and Filipino ancestry. I have never met another individual who shares the same diverse ethnic ancestry as mine. I attend a predominately white, Jewish school where I often feel like an outsider particularly when I participate in certain after school activities. I am the only African- American on my Science Olympiad team, and often I am the only one among many teams we compete against throughout the nation. Unfortunately, I’ve had to accept this fact because no black students will join the team, despite me encouraging them to do so. However, I feel most out of my comfort zone when I am asked “What are you?”, and I realize I am surrounded by all caucasians.
