Walking through the halls of my elementary school, I remember 9/11 so clearly. It seemed like such a normal day. I went to my third grade teacher’s classroom, put up my backpack and we started grammar practice.

I believe we were in the middle of math problems when a bang came from our door. My teacher stopped what she was doing, went to the door and I saw the principal appear. After that, it seemed time seemed to stop and chaos ensued.

My father, along with other parents, pulled me out of school and told me that America was under attack. I came home, sat in front of the television and watched the days events plan out with my dad. Nothing made sense to me, I wasn’t sure what was happening or why someone would attack the country I loved so much.

I was never aware of race or ethnicity before Sept. 11. After the attacks, attitudes began to change. My father is from Jordan, but grew up in the Czech Republic. I was not raised a certain religion, and I never saw it as important in my relationships with others. I look somewhat Middle Eastern, but I never associated myself with the race or ethnicity.

After 9/11, I remember children on the playground coming up to me and saying I was “going to hell” because I didn’t believe in their God. There were multiple times through my middle and high school school years where my “nickname” was terrorist. In high school, a vinegar and baking soda bomb (a water bottle) went off in someone’s truck bed and, although they were jokes, students accused me and other Middle Eastern students of being the ones who set it off.

When I came to college, it didn’t seem like as big of a deal. But, I know plenty of students who have received the same comments I have. SMU Senior Geenah Krisht experiences the same types of comments I received during high school.

“A lot of people are misinformed about Middle East. Islam, terrorism and the Middle East are always associated together. They are no way related. It’s ridiculous to group those things together,” Krisht said.

Traveling anywhere always takes longer than “normal people” because TSA does “random checks” on those who look suspicious and who have “Middle Eastern” names.

I always get chosen for “random baggage checks” when I’m flying anywhere. My bag and I were pulled aside when I was 10-years-old because I was on a list. Krisht has experienced the same thing with her family.

“Ever since 9/11, anytime my family and I travel anywhere, we get selected for ‘random checks.’ They say ‘Oh all six of you have been selected through a random check,’ and they go through everything. It’s ridiculous,” Krisht said.

Now, I can roll with the punches. I can take a joke. But when you are verbally attacked by people because of something you can’t change on a daily basis, it really takes a toll.

Many people from the Middle East are now associated with terrorists, but that is a generalization. That’s like saying all German people are Nazi’s; all Christian people are with Westboro Baptist Church. And now, it’s happening with ISIS. You cannot associated all people who practice Islam with ISIS. When you associate one group of people with something negative, that only promotes hate and racism that we struggle with as a world today.

Next time those thoughts go through your head, push them out. Not all people who wear a hijab are terrorists. Not all Middle Eastern people practice Islam. Everyone in a certain group is not responsible for the negative actions of a select few. Open your mind, and stop the hate.