So I'm sitting in Biology class, not even wearing my kilt or anything Celtic (besides my Claddagh), and my lab partner and I are talking.
"So somebody told me that in high school you were way different," she said, "like, you weren't all obsessed with Ireland and stuff."
I replied, "I'm not obsessed with it now. My involvement with the Irish community is just more apparent. I didn't wear kilts in high school, but I was as Irish then as am now."

We talked a bit more and I kept thinking more and I started to get angry. Finally I told her, "You know, I'm not as one-dimensional as everybody thinks I am. Everybody here who doesn't know me just thinks I'm some freak in a skirt. A redhead obsessed with Ireland that just plays bagpipes and drinks too much. Well let me tell you that there's way more to me that all of that. First of all, my drinking is WAY too exaggerated. Unlike most people, I drink good beer, and therefore don't like to drink too much. Secondly, there's much more to me than Ireland and bagpipes. Did you know that I'm an awarded photojournalist? That I volunteer for Habitat for Humanity? That I love hiking, volleyball, and Charles Mingus? No, you didn't. You fell into the rumor mill and decided that because I wear kilts I must be crazy and have tartan-for-brains. How about this: I refuse to be pigeon-holed like that. You know nothing about me. My past, my future, my dreams...nothing. So go back to the sorority-house and giggle to your friends about the kid wearing the skirt. In the meantime, I'll be living my life without giving a damn what you think."


Ok, so it's not verbatim, but that's basically what I said. And it felt good.