I’ve been around males my whole life; my brothers and friends have always treated me with respect and I’ve never experienced discrimination based solely on the fact that I was female, but I also didn’t know that I should have never expected to. The area that I grew up around was southern, rural, and small, but that never meant my mom would be restricted to any specific household tasks and that didn’t mean that my dad was the only one who could be the bread-winner; it just meant that I always knew I could be who I wanted, just like I think any other person should be able to.

And believe it or not, I don’t decide who my friends are based on the color of their skin, or mine for that matter. I don’t believe I deserve anything I didn’t work the hardest for, or earn fairly. I think people who do bad things should face consequences, I think people who do good things should be recognized. I don’t think bad things should happen to good people and I don’t think people should die young. I don’t think that anybody can justify racism, and I hope someday the people who try to are proven wrong and realize how much time they wasted with a hate filled heart and how blinded and small their outlook on life and humanity must have been. I hope business leaders are those most capable, not those most manipulative. I hope we find major solutions to poverty that create healthy communities and I hope every person can set goals and achieve them in order to understand the joy of successes and accomplishments. I don’t think school is for everyone, and I don’t think there should be such stigma behind believing that it is. I think every person should be able to receive an education, and if they want to, I hope they get to go to college. I think everyone should have to work hard and understand what it feels like to struggle, but be triumphant over the trial. I hope that we no longer have to question the capabilities of law enforcement but trust that both the laws and their enforcers are always working towards giving all people equal opportunity and safety. I hope that when we see an individual working hard towards their education we respect the path endured and cheer them on to the finish line rather than belittle their capabilities due to socioeconomics. I hope that everyone can experience what it is like to be different, and to belong to a group, but to also practice tolerance. I hope that “have to” is often corrected to be “want to” and I hope that most of the time it is done when offering to do something that makes life a little easier for someone else.

I know, I know, "good for you, but that doesn't solve anything," and I'm sorry that it doesn't, but if the problems that are going on in our world haven't been solved yet then that means there aren't any easy solutions, which is why it will remain unsolved unless everyone wants to work together to find ones that work. I hope we see this someday soon, 'cause I'm on board. I'm not saying we have to hold hands and sing "Kumbaya", but we should start by understanding the definitions of tolerance and respect. Do your homework.

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