2. Just because I’m African
Doesn’t mean I eat elephants or monkeys.
Doesn’t mean I eat my own people.
Doesn’t mean my language sounds like kicking or knocking noises!
Just because I’m big
Doesn’t mean I don’t exercise.
Doesn’t mean I don’t eat healthy.
Doesn’t mean that I’m not active.
Just because my skin color is dark
Doesn’t mean I was in the sun for too long.
Doesn’t mean I’m a different kind of species.
Doesn’t mean I’m not a human being.
My skin does not define me.

5. Just because I’m short
Doesn’t mean I can't reach the cereal box on the top shelf.
Doesn’t mean I am not good at tackling in football.
Doesn’t mean I am a midget.
Just because I’m good at math.
Doesn’t mean I am a math genius.
Doesn’t mean I will become a math educator.
Doesn’t mean I will become an accountant.
Just because I wear glasses
Doesn’t mean it gives you the right to call me four eyes.
Doesn’t mean I do not wear contacts.
Doesn’t mean that I’m a geek.

6. Just because I’m attending school at
an ALC
Doesn’t mean that I’m a corrupt kid
Doesn’t mean that I’m not clever
Doesn’t mean that I drink beer or
smoke weed
Just because I’m skinny
Doesn’t mean I’m anorexic
Doesn’t mean I starve myself
Doesn’t mean I never eat cookies
Just because I’m a quiet person
Doesn’t mean that I’m shy
Doesn’t mean I don’t like talking to
people
Doesn’t mean I’m not a social
person

7. Just because I’m skinny
Doesn’t mean that I'm anorexic. I actually eat a lot but just stay the same size.
Doesn’t mean you can call me hurtful names. I'm human and have feelings just like you do.
Doesn’t mean that my body is perfect. Just like everyone else I also have flaws.
Just because I’m shy
Doesn’t mean I don’t speak up. I can be loud. Everyone has a voice.
Doesn’t mean that I don’t like to go out and have fun with friends. I love trying new things
and meeting new people.
Doesn’t mean you should doubt me. I've stepped out of my comfort zone plenty of times
and gotten many things accomplished.
Just because I’m me
Doesn’t mean that my facial expressions make me a mean person. I'm actually a
sweetheart.
Doesn’t mean I'm stuck up because I walk with my chin held high. I've held my head down
for many years.
Doesn’t mean that I think I'm better than others. I'm the same as you.

8. Just because…
Just because I’m chubby
Doesn’t mean my legs can’t run faster than yours.
Doesn’t mean my hands can’t punch quicker than yours.
Doesn’t mean my stomach can’t flex harder than yours.
Just because I’m big
Doesn’t mean my head has more brain cells.
Doesn’t mean I can’t pick you up by your head.
Doesn’t mean I like to be big.
Just because I’m Asian
Doesn’t mean my eyes can see better than yours.
Doesn’t mean I can’t speak better than you.
Doesn’t mean I don’t live in Rochester, Minnesota .

10. Just because I’m attending RALC
Doesn’t mean I'm overdue on credits.
Doesn’t mean I'm a criminal who will rob a bank.
Doesn’t mean it’s only for pregnant teenagers.
Just because I’m smaller than others
Doesn’t mean I can’t reach the cereal box on top of the fridge.
Doesn’t mean I can’t lift weights.
Doesn’t mean I won’t be mature.
Just because I used to skip school
Doesn’t mean I’m still the same.
Doesn’t mean I’ll only work at McDonalds.
Doesn’t mean I won’t go to college.

11. Just because I have piercings
Doesn’t mean I curse at strangers at the mall
Doesn’t mean I'm creepy and am going to get
my whole body pierced.
Doesn’t mean I smoke and want to get kicked
out of school.
Just because I go to ALC
Doesn’t mean I have fights with other people
Doesn’t mean I don’t like academics and
don’t like doing assignments
Doesn’t mean I was unsuccessful in all my
classes at Mayo High School last year
Just because I have made mistakes
Doesn’t make me an evil person that will do
drugs with your child
Doesn’t mean I will rob a store
Doesn’t mean I will steal cookies from the
Girl Scouts at Wal-Mart

13. Just because I’m suffering with depression
Doesn’t mean I’m a psycho.
Doesn’t mean people don’t show me affection.
Doesn’t mean I have a cutting problem.
Just because I’m going to the ALC
Doesn’t mean I won’t be effective at learning.
Doesn’t mean I will drop out of high school.
Doesn’t mean I won’t get the help I need to graduate.
Just because I sometimes hang out with people who make bad decisions
Doesn’t mean I’m a bad kid who will shoplift.
Doesn’t mean I will fight other kids.
Doesn’t mean I will ruin my life or end up in jail.

14. Just because I’m a teen mother,
Doesn’t mean I don’t say “I love you” to my
daughter daily.
Doesn’t mean I can’t provide clothes, diapers
or wipes for my daughter.
Doesn’t mean I won’t go sleepless nights for
her.
Just because I got pregnant at a young age,
Doesn’t mean I was being immature.
Doesn’t mean my life is crumbling.
Doesn’t mean I can’t go bowling every
Monday.
Just because I don’t have many friends,
Doesn’t mean I will turn my back when you’re
talking.
Doesn’t mean I don’t like you.
Doesn’t mean you can gossip behind my back.

16. Just because I’m upset or mad most of the time,
Doesn’t mean that I’m not a fun person to be around.
Doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy life.
Doesn’t mean that I will say offensive things if you attempt to talk to me.
Just because I’m a fighter,
Doesn’t mean I enjoy hurting people physically.
Doesn’t mean that I’m always a threat.
Doesn’t mean I talk big about it.
Just because I’m overprotective of friends and family,
Doesn’t mean that I can’t control my instincts to respond.
Doesn’t mean I stand up to protect only my friends.
Doesn’t mean I won’t attempt to hear both sides first.

17. Just because I go to the ALC
Doesn’t mean I am not smart like other kids
Doesn’t mean I am a lazy person who just slacks off and does nothing
Doesn’t mean I am a bad kid who doesn’t care
Just because I work at McDonalds
Doesn’t mean I am a deadbeat
Doesn’t mean that is going to be my job forever
Doesn’t mean I am a slacker who can’t find any better job
Just because I like heavy metal and rock
Doesn’t mean it’s devil music
Doesn’t mean I am a hard core metal fan
Doesn’t mean I am a violent person to be around

19. Just because I’ve been in trouble in the past
Doesn’t mean I’ve gone to jail.
Doesn’t mean my parents didn’t raise me in a good environment.
Doesn’t mean I go to the mall to cause trouble.
Just because I’m Vietnamese
Doesn’t mean my parents work and own nail shops.
Doesn’t mean my parents were part of the Viet Cong.
Doesn’t mean I get straight A’s in Algebra.
Just because I go to the ALC
Doesn’t mean I’m going to drop out of high school.
Doesn’t mean I have a baby on the way.
Doesn’t mean I'm on probation.

20. Just because I’m nice,
Doesn’t mean you can take advantage of me.
Doesn’t mean you can’t hurt me.
Doesn’t mean I don’t have bad days.
Just because I’m Mexican,
Doesn’t mean all I eat is Taco Bell.
Doesn’t mean I jump fences.
Doesn’t mean I only speak Spanish and say “adios”
Just because I’m short,
Doesn’t mean I can’t play basketball.
Doesn’t mean I can’t reach the plates on the top shelf
Doesn’t mean I’m a midget.

21. Just because I’m Mexican
Doesn’t mean I’m in the U.S illegally
Doesn’t mean I’m going to carry drugs into this country
Doesn’t mean I can’t speak English well
Just because I’m Mexican
Doesn’t mean I’m going to be in a Mexican mafia
Doesn’t mean I don’t have money
Doesn’t mean that I won’t try a burger and fries
Just because I’m Mexican
Doesn’t mean I have a low rider
Doesn’t mean I eat beans everyday
Doesn’t mean I'm running away from my problems

22. Just because I’m teen mom
Doesn’t mean I cant take care of my son
Doesn’t mean I can’t be a good mom
Doesn’t mean I struggle like other moms
Just because I’m in Rochester ALC
Doesn’t mean I don’t act right
Doesn’t mean I'm not smart
Doesn’t mean I beat up on people
Just because I’m black
Doesn’t mean that I'm racist
Doesn’t mean my ancestors were slaves
Doesn’t mean I'm not like you

23. Just because I’m brown
Doesn’t mean I’m Mexican
Doesn’t mean I’m just one race
Doesn’t mean I’m not American
Just because I’m half Asian
Doesn’t mean I’m the smartest in Science and Math
Doesn’t mean I get all A’s
Doesn’t mean I’m racist against others
Just because I’m a girl
Doesn’t mean I can’t play Call Of Duty: Black Ops
Doesn’t mean I can’t tackle you in football
Doesn’t mean I have to wear pink dresses all the time

25. just because i’m african
doesn’t mean i’m a slave
doesn’t mean i have aids or other diseases
doesn’t mean i’m poor
just because i’m bisexual
doesn’t mean i’ll hit on every girl
doesn’t mean i don’t like guys
doesn’t mean i’m against straights
just because i’m strong and confident
doesn’t mean i’m cocky
doesn’t mean i’m hating on others
doesn’t mean i’m inconsiderate
Don’t judge a book by its cover

27. Just because I’m short,
Doesn’t mean I wont’ be able to reach my dream of becoming a nurse.
Doesn’t mean I have to wear heels all the time.
Doesn’t mean I always need extra help reaching things.
Just because I’m Mexican,
Doesn’t mean I’m in the Los Carnales 13.
Doesn’t mean I’m racist to everyone.
Doesn’t mean I always eat Tamales.
Just because I listen to rap,
Doesn’t mean I swear all the time.
Doesn’t mean I don’t like Keith Urban.
Doesn’t mean I have to be black to understand the emotions.

28. Just because I’m slow
Doesn’t mean I have a low IQ
Doesn’t mean I don’t know anything
Doesn’t mean I have the attention span of a fly
Just because I’m a gamer
Doesn’t mean I have no life
Doesn’t mean I waste my time everyday
Doesn’t mean I don’t go outside
Just because I’m a hard listener
Doesn’t mean I don’t listen all the time
Doesn’t mean when you talk I don’t listen
Doesn’t mean I don’t care what you have to say

30. Just because I’m Cambodian
Doesn’t mean I can’t play basketball for the
Oklahoma City Thunder
Doesn’t mean I eat pit bulls for dinner
Doesn’t mean I am a genius at math
Just because I’m Cambodian
Doesn’t mean I can’t eat chicken nuggets from
McDonalds
Doesn’t mean I am fob ( fresh off the boat )
Doesn’t mean I am dark-skinned
Just because I go to the ALC
Doesn’t mean I’ve committed a crime
Doesn’t mean I am stupid
Doesn’t mean I am not going to graduate from high
school

31. Just because I’m Hispanic
Doesn’t mean I don’t know English.
Doesn’t mean I'm a wetback.
Doesn’t mean I do cruel things.
Just because I’m so serious
Doesn’t mean I'm an unkind person.
Doesn’t mean I don’t like anybody.
Doesn’t mean I don’t have a sense of humor.
Just because I’m a silent person
Doesn’t mean I have to speak about something all the time.
Doesn’t mean I don’t have any friends to hang out with.
Doesn’t mean I’m weird.

32. Just because I’m slow
Doesn’t mean I’m falling behind in school
Doesn’t mean I have F’s in every class
Doesn’t mean I’m going to be a homeless man in the future
Just because I’m Cambodian/Laos
Doesn’t mean I'm good at doing math
Doesn’t mean that I’m a human calculator
Doesn’t mean I eat pitbulls and Garfield
Just because I wear skinny jeans
Doesn’t mean that I’m gay
Doesn’t mean I wear leggings
Doesn’t mean that they’re girl jeans

33. Just because I’m flexible,
Doesn’t mean I’m some preppy girl who shows off on a balance beam.
Doesn’t mean I use backflips and splits to impress boys.
Doesn’t mean I only compete in cheerleading.
Just because I kick it with people who have piercings and tattoos,
Doesn’t mean I’m going to steal at the mall.
Doesn’t mean I have bad friends who only smoke, drink, and party.
Doesn’t mean I try really hard to fit in with people.
Just because I usually get what I ask for,
Doesn’t mean I’m bratty or stuck up.
Doesn’t mean I don’t work for what I have and what I get.
Doesn’t mean I get everything how I want it when I want it.

34. Just because I’m overweight,
Doesn’t mean I eat burgers and fries everyday.
Doesn’t mean I can’t walk at the mall with my friends.
Doesn’t mean I sit and watch Ellen all day.
Just because I’m serious,
Doesn’t mean I’m not fun to hang out with at a sleepover.
Doesn’t mean I can’t take a joke about myself.
Doesn’t mean I’m not nice to people at school.
Just because I’m short,
Doesn’t mean I can’t run for my dreams.
Doesn’t mean I can’t keep up with you when we’re at the mall.
Doesn’t mean I can’t reach for something on top of the freezer.

35. Just because I wear glasses
Doesn’t mean I can’t see what’s going on or the meaning of
the world around me
Doesn’t mean I have four eyes
Doesn’t mean I can’t function without spectacles
Just because I have meat on my bones
Doesn’t mean I eat like a horse
Doesn’t mean I'm not fit as an athlete
Doesn’t mean I don’t like my body
Just because I’m short
Doesn’t mean I need a stepping stool
Doesn’t mean I can’t reach the noodles on the top shelf
Doesn’t mean I wish I was tall

37. Just because I’m black
Doesn’t mean that I act loud and obnoxious
Doesn’t mean that I only eat fried chicken and drink Kool-Aid
Doesn’t mean that I have to act tough towards everyone
Just because I go to an ALC
Doesn’t mean that I've been in fights and gotten kicked out of my home school
Doesn’t mean that I had a child and was forced to go here
Doesn’t mean that I was dumb and had to go to an easier school
Just because I’m a guy
Doesn’t mean that we have it easier than girls
Doesn’t mean that we can’t be judged like girls
Doesn’t mean that I can’t cry at my uncle’s funeral

38. Just because I’m black
Doesn’t mean I'm ghetto
Doesn’t mean I love chicken
Doesn’t mean I like to fight.
Just because I’m little
Doesn’t mean I can’t see billboards
Doesn’t mean I can fit into small spaces
Doesn’t mean people can bully me
Just because I’m from the Southside
Doesn’t mean I saw someone getting shot
Doesn’t mean I got robbed for my money
Doesn’t mean I break into other people’s
houses