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Personal Narrative: My Stereotypes

656 Words3 Pages

“So, if you just came from Pakistan, how can you speak English?” My friend asked me, with her eyebrows raised. It’s a question I get asked every time I shyly introduce myself to someone. A surprised look that I have seen far too many times. Yet, I feel unable to give an answer to those who automatically stereotype me as an ignorant, solely based on my heritage. I am a recent immigrant from Pakistan. I have been raised by a very supportive family who has always taught me to stay confident and true to myself. Nonetheless, coming to America and adjusting in a whole new environment has been challenging socially and culturally. I have grown up in my own small world far away from the United States. A small world that was male dominated, …show more content…

Labelling individuals, like myself, only creates hurdles in the path of success. Putting a tag on someone invokes the idea that the person can only act a certain way which is a huge impediment in the way of attaining a goal. The dawning of this realization upon me has induced me to progress even further. My family has shown me how overcoming negativity in life is the greatest strength one can possess. Being defied by others is a part of life but the most valuable result of it is what we learn from it, and I have learned to become courageous and …show more content…

Moving to the United States at the age of fourteen and leaving behind my small world exposed me to the difficulties in life, but those challenges changed me for the best. It showed me how people view me in a different way than I view myself and that was okay. There will always be those around me who will only see me as a girl who came from a developing country like so many others, but I will continue to prove them wrong by staying determined to achieve what I want despite their views based on my background. Life is what you make of it and I chose to make it

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