In recent years, as tolerance has (or so it seems) become the norm and interracial and interethnic marriages have seen a statistical uprising in the United States, the saying "You Love Who You Love" has become especially significant. All of a sudden, it's not surprising to see people of all races, ethnicities, and religions intermingle and find love that surpasses these socially-constructed barriers. Despite this, being in interracial relationships has taught me a lot about what this really means and it has impacted my perspective on love and the importance of tolerance not only in this day and age but in a country as diverse yet polarized like America. Here's a couple of things that my first serious relationship has taught me (FYI, I've been in interracial relationships before just not a "serious" one like my current relationship):

1. It's reminded of the fact that it's only been 50 years since interracial

marriage was decriminalized in the U.S.

It's hard to believe, but if you've seen the film Loving, released in 2016 – then you've gotten a background as to how recent the normalcy of interracial relationships is in America. Today, you can see couples from all kinds of different backgrounds together, but as recently as the late 1960s, these kinds of relationships were harshly looked down upon and seeking legal marriage was criminalized. Such was the case of Mildred Jeter, a black woman, and Richard Loving, a white man who got married in the 1960s and were sentenced to jail for violating anti-miscegenation laws. Their case made it all the way to the Supreme Court, and led to the decriminaliztion of interracial marriages in a landmark Supreme Court decision in 1967.

2. It has enabled me to cherish my cultural heritage on a different level.

As a Mexican American, at times I have felt conflicted and even, wrongfully ashamed of my identity. There is no shame in where you come from or (in my case) where your parents come from, no matter where it is – but for me, being deeply associated with a country whose people and migrants have a long history of racial stereotypes and polarization in the United States has been conflicting for me. Mainly, because I have been socialized by these stereotypes to believe these things. For example, President Trump once generalized that all Mexicans were "rapists", "criminals" and "drug traffickers."

Although becoming immersed in politics thanks to my college major and developing a subsequent passion for racial equality and social justice enabled me to remove this shame, being in my first serious, interracial relationship has enlightened me on the fact that connecting with my roots and cherishing my culture and heritage is not only important but that it also feels great to share that part of yourself with your partner. I've never felt more excited to have someone try my favorite traditional Mexican dishes or tell them about what Mexico is like.

3. Sometimes there are culture clashes.

They are not always the way you expect them to be nor should they be considered a bad thing. The fact is that, you were likely raised much differently than your other half. For example, in my household I grew up speaking a combination of Spanish and English, tortillas, tacos, and other ethnic foods were a basic part of my everyday meals and life, and so on. Sometimes, it's the little things that show a culture clash between you and your S.O. but it's all about learning how to navigate them.

For me, it happened one day we were making scrambled eggs together. My boyfriend insisted on putting milk in them, and I'd never seen that being done in my entire life. He explained that his mother and grandmother have always made scrambled eggs like this and he was raised eating them this way. For me, scrambled eggs meant a buttery taste (no milk in the process) accompanied by a tortilla and salsa – something completely different to what my boyfriend was used to.

4. Tolerance is key, and it's more important than you might think.

Respect is key in any relationship, but in one where there can be culture clashes and a stark divergence of opinions between you and your boyfriend or girlfriend or your families, tolerance is a special and super important component to the latter.

There can rarely be respect in an interracial relationship without tolerance. Tolerance means to respect each other's views, even if you don't agree with them. Tolerance means that even if you don't agree with their family's views or opinions, you'll be mindful of the fact that you come from different backgrounds and there are reasons as to why you have such differences. Tolerance means that maybe you or your partner have traditional, ethnic, or religious practices that aren't shared but that you'll always respect that and won't question or defy those things without fully opening yourself to understanding them in the first place.

5. You Love Who You Love.

If there is one saying I can use to conclude what being in an interracial relationship has taught me, it is that "you love who you love."

Love knows no boundaries! Love is beautiful, and in America where you can meet people who were born halfway across the world while you were maybe born and raised in a small American town, love can consist of a beautiful exploration of someone else's culture and background. Love doesn't see someone else's ethnicity or the color of their skin, it doesn't judge on what country they come from or what political or ideological affiliations they might have. Love knows no barriers. In the end, you love who you love.