Living in the deep South has shown me the worst in people. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the South. I love fried chicken, sweet tea, lemonade, and the word y’all is a part of my everyday vocabulary; but I definitely don’t love the close-mindedness and the obvious racism everyone tries to ignore. Obviously, these kinds of things happen all over the country, but we can’t ignore that it is more present in the south, which leads me to the gist of this article.

This past year in politics has been a crazy one, a very unexpected person became a nominee in the Presidential Election; yes, none other than the infamous Donald Trump. Not only is this man racist, he is homophobic, and has said extremely derogatory comments to women. I genuinely did not want to believe that almost half the country felt this way, but I couldn’t deny it when I started receiving more dirty looks at the grocery store and hearing more racist and islamophobic comments mumbled under people’s breath. Finally, I received a comment that really broke me.

I was waiting in line for the bathroom when a man came up to me, told me I didn't belong in this country, and drove off in his red truck, his “Trump 2016” sticker proudly displayed on his bumper. Honestly, I was so disoriented from my road trip that I barely had time to process what had even happened, let alone formulate a response. Now, after going through cycles of sadness, anger, and weariness, I decided to give this man a piece of my mind.

So, to the man who told me I didn’t belong in the country, here’s my response now, since you didn’t give me the chance to say it to your face.

First of all, way to show your true cowardly colors by running away before I could even say anything. Are all Trump supporters like this or is it just you?

Second of all, America is my home. I was born in Memphis, TN at Baptist Memorial.

I grew up here. I loved going to the Memphis Zoo as a toddler (and still do). I went to an all-girls school from fourth grade and graduated this year. My family and I celebrate every Fourth of July with laughter and kabobs and fireworks.

I intend to live here for the rest of my life. I want to graduate college, go to medical school, and eventually become a doctor, so I can help the country that has given so much to me and my family. The United States took my parents in, two immigrants from Pakistan, with warm welcomes and open arms, and I want to give back as much as I can. No one has the right to tell me to get out of a country that has been my home for my entire life.

Don't tell me to go back to where I came from, I am a proud United States citizen and the only place I can go back to is the hospital I was born in.