It was 20 years ago when I was in high school and I remember that I really wanted to go to a certain private school. My parents didn't want me to go to school there at first, though, because I'm a black and they found out the school was only for white students.

I was so mad when they told me this that they decided to take it to court. I didn't want them to because I felt funny about it. But my parents told me that they were going to fight for my rights to go to that private school. So I went along with them.

When it went to court my parents told the judge that if white students can go to a private school, then blacks can too. They told the judge that people have equal rights in the United States. But the judge wouldn't do anything about it, so our lawyer brought the case to the Supreme Court.

It was my first time in the Supreme Court. I was so amazed at how the Supreme Court looked inside. When the judges heard the case, my parents said the same thing that they had the first time.

It took almost a year to win the case so I could go to the private school. And after I started classes there, a lot of white students looked at me funny, and they were against my white friend just because she was friends with me.

I graduated from there, and in my graduation speech I told those who came to my graduation that everybody is basically the same except for our different colors. I thought that no one would clap, but instead, the whole crowd cheered because they all knew what I said was true.

My advice to people who have bad feelings for someone because of the color of their skin or slant of their eyes is that inside everyone is made the same. You should respect that, no matter what. They are just the same as you are, so give them a chance to be your friend!