To the badasses who are doing it:

I see you.

There are certain things that you are never told when you make the decision to attend a PWI. Like how no amount of interaction with white folk back home can prepare you for the contained environment that PWIs are, even if grew up in a big city. You’re never truly prepared for the way people who don’t look like you look at you- if they look at you at all. Worst of all, probably, is the failure to inform you that attending a Predominantly White Institution can seriously mess with your mental health. It can be an extremely taxing experience that can make you question your decision to go to college.

While I realize that this has been my case, and the case of many of my peers, I recognize that not every student of color will have a similar experience. Your college years won’t necessarily be horrible. As a matter of fact, there is a chance that you won’t relate to anything that is in this letter. If this is the case for you, I am happy for you, and I wish you the best. I hope for nothing but success and happiness for you.

However, if this is not your case, I’m here to tell you that you are not alone.

College is a bumpy road for everyone. It’s full of transitions and changes that most teens-turned-almost-adults have to go through. Making new friends, struggling with homesickness (if you decide to dorm), and handling a new level of academic rigor is enough to make anyone pull their hair out. But the experience of students of color is very unique. As students of color, we are dealt a different set of cards that include all of the experiences mentioned above, but include issues of race relations on campus and potential socio-economic differences. These are aspects of our experiences that shape our time at our colleges and universities. They can make you feel depressed, over-stressed, and anxious. You may consider transferring to another school or dropping out altogether. It is easy to feel isolated, abandoned, and alone.

I come with good news- it’s not just you. There is a community of students of color across the United States that feel your struggle. College is hard. It gets even more difficult when you’re faced with ignorance every day. You may be surrounded by people who don’t understand you or your culture, and who make the decision to stay ignorant. You may hear your white peers claim that “racism isn’t real”, that “racism is over”. You may even hear racial slurs casually thrown about. On top of the casual and blatant racism, you have to deal with staying on task and keeping your grades up while somehow maintaining a healthy social life. It’s exhausting right?

While there is no guide book on how to survive at a PWI (though I’m sure it would make it a whole lot easier), I do have a few things to share that helped me get through my first semester:

Remind yourself that you earned your place the the school you attend. Do not allow white supremacy to tear you down, chew you up, and spit you back out. Take advantage of the resources offered to you. Go to the counseling center, if your school has one. Find a safe space; this can be somewhere where you’re with people who make you feel happy, or it can be somewhere peaceful where you can be alone. Pursue your passions. Build your resume. Study long and hard. Surround yourself with good people.

It is not your job to be an activist 24/7. It is not your job to represent your race or ethnicity at all times. It is the job of white students, administrators,and faculty on your campus to educate themselves. The burden of “being an example” should not be weighing heavy on your shoulders. Sometimes, it is okay to give up a challenge. College should not be a constant fight for you. Someone else’s ignorance is never your fault. Self care is so important. Treat yo’ self.

The reality is, if I could go back in time, I would not change my decision to attend a PWI. It is hard; some days are bad days and that is okay. The truth is, if you can make it as a student of color at a Predominantly White Institution, you can make it anywhere. Hang tight. Reach out. And most importantly, put your mental health first. Ask for help if you need it, because there are people who understand. I know that this is easier said than done. But there is strength and power inside of you, and you can make it. You will make it.

These institutions were not made for us. But we take these campuses by storm. We give them flavor and season them. Do not forget that you earned your place at your college. It is your college too. Do not be afraid to demand respect, do not be afraid to claim your spaces. Do not be afraid.

*The opinions and ideas expressed are solely those of the author, and may not reflect the opinions of The Bronx Brand*

Lu Perez is from the Eastchester section of the Bronx but currently resides in the Fordham area. Being Latina and growing up in a predominantly Hispanic/Latinx community in the Bronx has been a great influence in the way she writes. Her appreciation for her Dominican heritage comes through in Lu’s work. From the slang, the open fire hydrants during the summer, the sticky streets and booming music have become pieces in the puzzle that forms Lu’s identity; these are the experiences that have had a profound effect on the way Lu perceives the rest of New York, and the world.

Be sure to follow her on instagram: instagram.com/afro.latinaa