Prove them all wrong

Jessica Munoz, 10th Grade
Mount Eden High School, Hayward, CA
Bay Area

I'm Mexican, so I must claim to be red or blue.
Instead, I claim to be intelligent.
I'm Mexican, so I must work in the fields for low pay.
Instead, I work hard in school for no pay.
I'm Mexican, so I must have gotten pregnant before age fifteen.
Instead, I gave birth to new opinions and concepts.
I'm Mexican, so I must have dropped out from school.
Instead, I dropped out from the stereotypes.
I'm Mexican, so I must have swam across a river.
Instead, I dove into an ocean of knowledge.
I'm Mexican, so I must have hopped the border.
Instead, I hopped from one grade level to another.
I'm Mexican, so I must be an illegal alien.
Instead, I have foreign customs and a mind that is out of this world.
Save me a spot in college so I can succeed.
Save me a spot in college so I can stand on my own two feet.
Save me a spot in college so I can shatter the stereotypes.
I'm Mexican, so I must not be college bound.
Save ME a spot in college to prove them all wrong.