Mariana was born to make a difference, she just didn’t know that yet. She didn’t know that what lied within her could change her whole outlook on life. It was just a matter of time before she discovered her true inner self.

Mariana and her family moved to America when she was 3, to attempt to find a better life and better opportunities for everyone in the family. Since then her family has been moving from state to state hoping her father’s company could find a permanent placement in one of their many buildings. After years of moving from place to place the Santiago family was finally able to settle in Winchester, California.

Unfortunately, because of all the moving, Mariana would be going to a new school where she would be enrolling halfway through the year. Mariana knew what it felt like to be the new kid at school, she thought that with all of her experience this school would be no different. This thought didn’t change until she walked into school on her first day.

Mariana planned on walking into the school with her head low, with the intention of not being noticed. She pushed through those heavy front doors, and got the feeling she was being looked at. She raised her head and realized all eyes were on her. Once her eyes hit theirs she realized she stood out from everyone else. She stood out because her skin was not the same color as everyone else's.

Mariana stood there while whispers filled the room, but one whisper stood out from all the others. “Looks like someone escaped border control.” The words hit her ears like a ringing bell, tears began to build behind her eyes. Mariana turned and walked through the school exactly how she imagined, with her head down low.

Mariana spent the rest of the day avoiding everyone she could, and tried to ignore all of the mean whispers filling her head. Keeping her head down low Mariana was not completely aware of the way she was heading. She suddenly was stopped, and all her books hit the floor. She looked up and said “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.” The girl replied with “Yah I could tell, maybe you should just go back to where you came from before I call someone to force you back.” Mariana could take it anymore, and ran home.

The doors flew open and Mariana charged through the house to her room, and slammed the door so hard you could feel it throughout the house. She threw herself on the bed and buried herself in her pillows, and let out a loud but muffled scream. Marie, Mariana’s mom came bursting through the door, “Mariana why are you home early, what happened?” Mariana grabbed the pillow and threw it at her mother saying, “This is all your fault, why couldn’t you have made me normal like everyone else? I don’t belong here, and I’m not the only one who thinks that.”

Marie began to tear up, and Mariana’s little brother Jesus ran to his mom and asked why she was crying. She replied with “I’m okay, I just need to talk with your sister.” Jesus gave her another hug and ran away without another thought about it. Marie approached the bed and said, “Does this have to do with your appearance?” Mariana snapped back with, “Of course it is, I wish I could be light skinned, with blonde hair and blue eyes like everyone else in that school.”