Name: Jordan Sanchez

Mrs. C

English Period C

16 May 2022

International Day of Peace

United in Differences & Diversity: Living Together in Peace

Prompt: As Secretary-General António Guterres has said: “Racism

continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in
every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it
continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes
societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments,
and… the linkages between racism and gender inequality are
unmistakable.” Violence and hate seems to permeate global and national
news- Buffalo New York, Chicago, California church, Texas flea market,
Baltimore. Where is the light? A world of peace begins with you. Will you
accept the call to action? How will you celebrate diversity, inclusion,
compassion and peace today?

Response here. The reflective rubric will be used to score this

piece. Be creative in format and thought!
 In this world I will never be seen as normal. I'm not society's standard, I'm not the skinny
white girl with sparkling blue eyes, luscious blond hair and the all-american football player
boyfriend. I’m a short latina with boring brown eyes and hair I started dyeing because “oh your
hair is so ethnic, you are so… different looking,” I’ve neither identified as boy or girl since 6th
grade and my boyfriend would rather be skateboarding than on a football team. My parents are
never going to be the accepting one’s who adjust to my name and pronouns but rather the ones
who tell me they didn't want this for me because it will make my life so much harder. But what is
harder in this world as someone who will never fit into a box. I’ve already been through the tales
of being catcalled, told I’m not pretty enough, to get back into a kitchen and that my body isnt
my own but rather for the pleasure and dictation of men. The violence seen in this world is to
everyone, I've seen enough crime shows late at night to know that. Nonetheless what keeps me
awake is the chances grow daily that something could happen to me, maybe because I’m
hispanic, or maybe cause I don’t plan on being any man's trophy wife. “Why don't you try this to
be more like what a guy would like? How about changing something about you, no man will
love you like that. You have so much potential to make someone so happy, you just aren't enough
yet.” I'm a 16 year old who has been told my whole life that I need to learn how to cook, clean,
make myself look nice and study to catch the attention of a guy who can take care of me. Why
can't I just take care of myself?

The world is a hateful place, to bring a slice of happiness to people is something one can
cherish. It won't stop what happens in the world, people won't stop their unadulterated hate if
someone smiles at them, but maybe it could help. I haven't given up on the world yet, no matter
what I’ve been through to teach me that hate has lived in my very own home. Peace is something
we can achieve and I believe that wholeheartedly.