I am incredibly proud of my heritage and who I am. Unfortunately, when some people hear me say I'm Mexican, they forget everything else. It no longer matters that I've lived in the South all my life or that the other half of my family has European roots. Clearly, I am just Mexican. Since I was a little kid, people have been placing all kinds of crazy, thoughtless stereotypes on me. These are some of my personal favorite assumptions about being "brown."

1. Wait, how are you not good at dancing?

I'm completely accident-prone, and I'm not very graceful. That doesn't magically go away when I see a dance floor.

2. Hey, eat this spicy stuff. It's so cool when you do.

I'm pretty sure liking spicy food is a personal preference. Why don't you eat the pepper?

3. Are those your real eyebrows?

Was that a real question?

4. What are you? You look like something.

Such an open-ended question. Let's see: I am a girl, I am 5'4", I am 21, I am a college student, I am a human being just like you...

5. So...are you mixed?

Well, I'm not a dog or a cat, so this is a tough one. I don't think people have "breeds."

6. You don't speak Spanish?

Like I said, I grew up in the South, in northern Florida. But thank you for assuming I speak Spanish and greeting me with, "OH-LA."

7. Mexicans are so hairy. They're like werewolves.

Yeah, someone actually said this to me. I still have no words.

8. You're so pale.

This is actually just my skin tone. It's brown enough for me.

9. You should tan. Hispanics don't sunburn.

Yes! Yes, we do!

10. "Puta" is a compliment, right?

Bless your heart.

11. Do you know any bad words in Spanish?

Oh, definitely. But I'm not telling you.

People say the craziest things, am I right? It's not always easy being brown, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.