In elementary school, my classmates would mock me with racial slurs because I could not speak English, while I stayed quiet, unable to defend myself. I was angry I felt like an outsider, aspiring to diffuse into a world that did not accept me. I felt frustrated and betrayed by the fact that citizens of a country that had such strongly declared the equality of all was the exact opposite. Despite this, I found solace in reading. Often at night, I used a flashlight under my blanket when my mom told me it was bedtime so that I could finish reading in the dark. A wave of content washed over me every time I finished a book and started another one. As a result, my English began to improve dramatically and I began to enjoy attending school. I made new friends, I talked more, and I gained the confidence and acceptance I had wanted since the beginning. I