Stereotypes

“People like them are lazy, conceited, unintelligent, and useless,” are the statements that I constantly hear about Latinos and Hispanics nowadays. There are millions of people and now all of a sudden these ethnic groups are lazy, conceited, unintelligent, and useless? I don’t think so! For centuries, racism has been a huge issue in this country; ever since slavery was practiced in the 1800’s, it has been a huge influence as to what we go through now. We obviously don’t have slavery anymore, but back then it was considered that people with a darker skin type were a minority and that stereotype has been glued to some people’s minds. I on the other hand, don’t agree with that statement.    The question I find myself asking on a regular basis is, since when does race determine your character?Yes, there are different cultures that people bring from where they are from, but that doesn’t exactly form your character. Nothing should be based or judged on by the color of skin or where you came from and unfortunately, it’s the opposite.    


Everyone should give some credit to each and everyone they see, and not stereotype them for the way they look or where they are from. We can’t get rid of stereotypes and racism all together, but if each one of us individually worked on not judging one another you will definitely see a big difference. We live in America, and I believe that we should embrace the “freedom” that it was originally given and give that freedom to everyone.-AIMEE VARGAS


(Notice: By me posting, I hope you realize I'm not trying to say that only these groups are the ones being stereotyped. Everyone is stereotyped in one way or another, and I'm not wanting it to seem like it's not.)

Friends and Opportunities

Life is a test and something we need to “pass”. Life is supposed to make you grow and learn from mistakes and experiences. Often times, life is taken for granted and we don't take notice of what is important and what is really needed. I believe it's important to try to be successful. When I say “successful”, I don't mean have all the money in the world, but to be successful in friendships, in happiness, in relationships, and anything else that can make you happy and live life to the fullest. In order to be happy I believe it's important to take every opportunity that's given to you. My way of happiness is also serving and helping others as much as I can. When I serve others I have the biggest smile and I get a good feeling that says I'm doing the right thing. My challenge to you is to open your eyes and see who needs help, who needs a friend, and who needs at least a little attention. You have no idea how little of a gesture can change someone's world in a matter of seconds. You would be surprised who really needs a friend, and you could be that person who can help them to better themselves. When I'm willing to help others, it opens up an opportunity to get to know myself even better than before. It's pretty insane to think that helping others will make yourself know who you are more, but it's definitely true.
-AIMEE VARGAS

In order to have a relationship succeed.

In order for a relationship to work out, you need to have respect for one another, love them, trust, and be honest with each other. A relationship cannot continue in the right path if you are always yelling at each other, pointing fingers, lying to them all the time, and lack of trust. If you have troubles trusting your significant other, counseling may be an option, or your relationship will corrupt. Maybe something happened in your past that is not letting you trust your "boyfriend/girlfriend." If you don't show your boyfriend/girlfriend that you care about them, why even bother being with them again? show them that you do love them, and that you would do anything for them. Also, if you're not honest with the person you love... (this goes back to trust), how can you trust them? Being honest is 100% better than going through a path of lies.
-AIMEE VARGAS

Verbal and Sexual Abuse

Being in a verbally abusive relationship or situation may be scary, and may seem like you can't get out of it, but there are always a way to, whether you believe it or not. I have never been in this situation before, but these things I write may be something that could help.

Verbally:   
Tell them you don't like what they are doing and saying, because there are times they may not know what they are doing, or that it could be hurting you. If that doesn't work, you need to go to the police and let them handle the situation. You need to get away from the person as soon as possible.   
If you are the one who is verbally abusing someone, you need to stop! All you are causing is pain to those around you. The reason why you are taking your anger out on someone is probably because of something that has happened in your past that really impacted you in a negative way. Instead of taking your anger out on people, you should use that bad experience and use it to grow from. Just tell yourself "I don't want to do that to other people." or "I don't want this experience to continue down to my family, so I got to do what I have to do for it to not happen." Please don't take your anger out on others. If you have been verbally abusive to someone, and you wish to stop but don't know how, you need to get yourself into counseling. Also, apologizing to the person you've hurt may be a wise choice. If you are going to apologize, do so in person because there is nothing better than to show that you are truly sorry by actually facing your problems in a mature way. It also shows that you are ready to take any consequence for your action. If you are a religious person, you also would probably consider to talk to your leader from church, or a person "higher" than you, and they'll take you to the road you need to go.

Sexual:  
If you've been in a forced sexual situation, you need to do everything you can to get away from them. Go tell an adult you trust and let them handle the situation. (The adult needs to call the cops.) If the person who is abusing you threatens you that they'd do something to you if you told anyone, don't pay attention to what they said. Go to an adult anyways. You're in much danger if they take control of the situation and not you. What the abuser did to you is not your fault, and this is something important you need to know, because often times people feel as if they were the reason as to why it happened, which is completely false. The person who did it obviously is mentally ill and needs help or can't control their behavior. After you get it situated with the cops, you may want to go to counseling. Counseling will help you get your feelings out and it will be the first step to be able to get cured from the pain. Of coarse you won't recover fast, but you do have to put all your effort in trying to recover. 
  If you are someone who has sexually abused someone, there is a lot that describes you. You are mentally ill, angry, someone who is sick of not getting what they want, prideful, sad, and someone who doesn't know how to control their feelings and situations. You feel like the only way you can get control of something is if you control a person, and have them do what you want them to do. The only solution you have to better yourself is to turn yourself into the police. You may not like the idea, but it is the only solution you have.

(A little “rough draft” I wrote. I know it may not sound as good, or it may sound cheesy, but I wrote down whatever popped into my head at first, and what I felt was needed to be said.)
-AIMEE VARGAS

Race/color

So, there is something I want to get out. These days I have noticed that practically everything is being judged by your race. It absolutely makes me so sad to see that. When someone of a different race (other than Caucasian) goes and applies for a job, there may be a chance that they wont get the job or wont be accepted by some people or be stereotyped as someone who wont work as hard as the next guy.

I constantly hear stereotypes like "Oh, people with darker skin aren't as hard working as the lighter skin are," which is absolutely not true. Just because someone is dark skinned they're lazy? I don't think so! There are others of different color of skin that are and aren't lazy. It all has to do with the personality that you carry. Color shouldn't define who you are and the way you do things. I also hear things like "They're all criminals" and yada yada. That's a bunch of crap. Because every race has their percentage of crime caused, and every race has their difficulties.

Notice, I'm not here talking about Illegal Immigrants and such, I'm here talking about the color. I am also NOT saying that all those who are light skinned are bashing on those who aren't. I'm talking about those who ARE bashing and being stereotypical. And, I'm also not saying th at only those with dark skin are bashed on. I know that EVERYONE gets stereotyped.

I just wish everyone would look past the color and get to know them one by one, personally. But unfortunately, that's not how the world works. There will be constant stereotypes on each one of us, and all we can do is learn to love ourselves no matter what. My main reason at writing this is to show that each color is beautiful.

You deserve to be happy and having people stereotyping you can be difficult, I know, (since Ive been stereotyped myself of coarse.), but all that matters is that YOU love yourself and that you know who you are, and what you've been through. No one else is going to know your emotions twenty four seven, or know every trial and journey you've gone through. All that matters is that YOU are happy with the way you're living life. Ill watch a Tyra show where there are girls telling their story about how they'll bleach their skin and go to extreme measures to change the color of their skin to feel accepted by people. They think that going that far will help their self esteem. I on the other hand, don't think that's the way to go. Whats so dandy about changing the color of your skin? You're going to be judged no matter what you do in life by at least ONE person you encounter. Possibly someone you've never really met, but has heard of you. Honestly, there's nothing you can do to change the judgments. What really matters is what you think of yourself. 

There is nothing more beautiful than a natural happy boy or girl and all you gotta do is let that joy shine through your eyes! Don't let anyone bring you down. You know, each day that passes by, you're closer to death. :D so you might as well live. Laugh. Enjoy. and love every second of it. Yeah, there are trials, but, there is nothing better than a good self esteem to boost you right up when you're about to stoop right at the bottom point. I refuse to let stereotypes tell me to hate my race and color. What about you? You decide the way you want to live life.

--Aimee