I worked very hard in high school and earned excellent grades.  I ended up getting a full ride to attend college.  I was ready to conquer anything and everything.  Much to my dismay, when I arrived on campus I was  very surprised  with the lack of diversity .  In my dorm I was one of two or maybe three blacks .  I was so ready to pursue my life's dream of going away to college.   Never in my wildest dreams did it ever occur to me that I would encounter  social problems.  My college is  a private Catholic college for women. For entertainment, we were  taken by bus to nearby co-ed colleges and universities.  We  frequented Columbia University, Fordam University and West Point Academy.
Most of the time I stayed in my dorm because I felt totally out of place, since there were very few blacks to mingle or even date.  I decided early on that I was attending this college to get my education not to socialize.  After staying behind for almost the entire first semester, it became clear to me that I had to start going out  so I could remain sane.
I made a few friends who took me under their wings.  I started going to dances at Columbia and at West Point Academy. I thought I might as well go and  people watch and listen to the band. What  I did not expect was to be asked out on a date by a white male.  I absolutely refused to go on a date with a white male.  In my mind  I am black and I am supposed to only date blacks.
I had done all  of the required work for one of my classes.  I had earned  all A's on my tests.  At the end of the semester the professor gave me a C- for my final grade. I was furious and demanded an explanation, no explanation was given to me.  It later became clear that the professor was a  racist and he was in the habit of failing people of color.  I was told by an upper classman that I was lucky , because I was the first person of color to pass the class, everyone else got an "F".  This is truly very sad, but as God is my witness this is a true account on what occurred. 
I am a very determined individual I made up my mind that I was going to leave with my degree no matter what.  Second  semester rolled around and on to new challenges.  I continued to do well in most of my classes, and I made  it a point to socialize more.  Being the optimist that I am, I tried to remain in a positive state of mind.   One evening while attending a dance at Columbia University,  a white male approached me and asked me to dance.  I danced  with him, but  when he asked for my number I quickly declined.  I went and sat down to get away from him.
 On the bus ride back to my college I had an epiphany.  It hit me like a bolt of lightning .  I sat in my seat with my heart racing like a locomotive.  I soon realized I was just as bigoted as that professor who nearly failed me.  No,! ! No !! I reasoned with myself, not I, no way , no how.
 This earth shaking realization changed my life forever.  I went on to date white males.  During my senior year, there were quite a few more blacks that  enrolled at Columbia and West Point Academy.  I dated them too.  Life was simply grand.
After graduation I became member of a church group .  I decided to  serve a year in Houston Texas  as a missionary.  It was during a  church meeting that I met my husband.  He just moved from Colorado to Houston because   of his job.  We dated for a year and   six months before getting married.   We will be celebrating our twenty fifth wedding anniversary March 20010.  Had I not have that epiphany I would not have met my soulmate.  We have three wonderful children, ages 21, 19 and 14.  I do believe God has a plan for all of us, he is responsible for shaping and molding us.  I am simply glad that  God forgave me for my foolish ways.  People are people no matter what color they are.  I am an avid believer that true love has no color.