Friends

            
             Identity can be described as a distinguishing characteristic or personality of an individual. When asked who people are, many answer by including their name, gender, their date of birth, occupation and interests. My legal name is Yuliya Zelmanova. I was born in Siberia, and am Russian. I go by Julie, which is the English equivalent of Yuliya. I am a young woman, a Libra, and a student interested in psychology. There are many categories that make up identity. They include gender, religion, sexuality, ethnicity and various others. Thus far, I believe only two of these categories have had the biggest impact on my life. They are gender and ethnicity. I wish to relate one important experience, which I believe shaped my life and my beliefs. This incident made me realize that my struggles as a young Russian-American woman living in the U.S. were real, and that they made me who I am today. .
             This occurrence came to pass when I was young and living in New York. I moved to the United States when I was five and a half years old. I never thought of myself as an outsider. Innately, I knew why my parents were bringing me here. They were certain that I would have a better life here than in Russia. When the significant encounter transpired, I wondered if they would know that such misery could come from the ignorance of others. "Go back to your country!" These were the words I heard as I was petting a German shepherd puppy with a bright red collar. I was ten years old at the time and did not comprehend the meaning of that hurtful and ignorant comment. I remember thinking to myself "Why would she say that? Was she even saying it to me?" .
             The night of the incident, I sat deeply wounded because I was not accepted in my much-loved hometown. I did not know how I would tell my mom. I could not even assume how she would react to my harassment, and I did not want to get punished for something I did not even understand.