Poem: High School Yearbook Photo

A scan his sister sent me

My high school yearbook photo...

I was stereotyped my whole life. Expected to be a certain way because I came from a Hispanic family in the Bronx, just another Puerto Rican from the projects.

PLEASE catch yourself when you start with these judgemental thoughts because it's not fair to the other person or yourself.

I wrote this poem for the yearbook to go with my photo.

"Am I handsome? Do I look like I'm from Hanson? Yeah right! Might as well wear pink pants and start dancing. I am a great fan of Manson, I sometimes paint my nails, but I don't do any chanting. I'm not ashamed of this, just got me a bit open-minded. I took"rap" and"rock" and combined it, now haters are still blinded by their stereotypical mindsets! Call me a poser or a hypocrite! "Hey, whatever happened to the wide-legs and spikes?" Oops, I'm sorry I trailed off the stereotype! But Weren't you the one to start a fight cause you thought I was gay or half-white? Weren't you the one to call me a freak? Weren't you the one who stood by me? What do you care if I change my style of jeans? Should I apologize for not sticking to routine? "I'm sorry... I am stuck in between." "I'm sorry for not living up to my stereotype." "I am sorry I'm the type to mix the styles that won't look right." "But I'm truly sorry for wasting my time and smile at those I dislike!" #freepablogracia