As much as I would like the term Mexican to simply describe my heritage, it also implies certain characteristics about me: that I speak Spanish fluently and I have parents and immediate family members who come directly from Mexico. However, neither of these things apply me and for this reason I have been dubbed “white.”

I didn’t cross the border into America from Mexico, nor did my parents, nor did their parents — my family came to America four generations ago. I was born and raised in Kansas and have lived in Johnson County, one of the seemingly-least racially diverse places ever, for nearly a decade.

My parents didn’t teach me Spanish — I’ve been studying it in school since I was 12. The only native speaker I could hold a conversation with is probably Dora the Explorer, despite the belief of my Spanish class peers who have witnessed me excel on most of my tests and quizzes.

I regularly receive questions regarding my Mexican culture (or rather, my lack thereof) and I’ve been referred to as white on multiple occasions.

This strikes a nerve every time I hear it. How on Earth does one act white? By buying expensive clothes and having petty, first world problems? By drinking Starbucks and hashtagging ‘#whitegirl’ on Instagram photos? What would you call a caucasian person who doesn’t fit his or her stereotype? Mexican?

You can’t describe a person based solely on how closely he or she fits a stereotype given to his or her race. To call me white — to completely strip me of my heritage just because I don’t act enough like other members of my ethnic group — is unacceptable. You would never judge a caucasian person for his or her apparent lack of knowledge of his or her German, Scottish or Irish heritage, so what makes it okay to do it to other races? Therefore, your personality is not a reflection of your race and vice versa.

It’s true that some ethnic groups share similar qualities, but those are based more on where they live and less on their heritage.

I am a product of a white-dominated, racially-undiverse environment and I am still proudly Mexican (and I still like Starbucks).