Aisha Rodriguez

And the call drops. And I'm really starting to think, man, the world is over as I know it. And little did I know I was right. So I take the phone back out, and I dial my house, and I'm ready with the same spiel, and I tell her, like, Mommy, Mommy, I'm on my way home. She stops me again and goes, Aisha, don't come home. Someone got raped in the elevator. And the call drops yet again.

And here, I'm starting to get real scared. And I'm thinking, man, that could have been me if I was home on time, doing the right thing. If I was there, that could have been me. And my two friends look at me kind of worried and ask me what happened. And when I tell them, they look at me like, that's what you're scared of? And this was when I realized I'm the girl of the group.

And here, I'm starting to get real scared. And I'm thinking, man, that could have been me if I was home on time, doing the right thing. If I was there, that could have been me. And my two friends look at me kind of worried and ask me what happened. And when I tell them, they look at me like, that's what you're scared of? And this was when I realized I'm the girl of the group.

And here, I'm starting to get real scared. And I'm thinking, man, that could have been me if I was home on time, doing the right thing. If I was there, that could have been me. And my two friends look at me kind of worried and ask me what happened. And when I tell them, they look at me like, that's what you're scared of? And this was when I realized I'm the girl of the group.

Like, they can only protect me so much. But they walk me home, and my grandma comes down to take over this protector role, and she's ready. She got her bata, chancletas, y to. And she also, she's also there, like, she's just ready, and she holds something out, and it's a metal turkey baster. And she goes, Aisha, protect yourself. So I take it, not really sure what I'm supposed to do with that.

Like, they can only protect me so much. But they walk me home, and my grandma comes down to take over this protector role, and she's ready. She got her bata, chancletas, y to. And she also, she's also there, like, she's just ready, and she holds something out, and it's a metal turkey baster. And she goes, Aisha, protect yourself. So I take it, not really sure what I'm supposed to do with that.

Like, they can only protect me so much. But they walk me home, and my grandma comes down to take over this protector role, and she's ready. She got her bata, chancletas, y to. And she also, she's also there, like, she's just ready, and she holds something out, and it's a metal turkey baster. And she goes, Aisha, protect yourself. So I take it, not really sure what I'm supposed to do with that.

And we go to the deli, you know, the sus illegal one that's always doing something wrong, but it's your fam, so it's okay. And when we tell him what happens, he also looks at me like, man, that could have been you. He reaches down, takes something out, and he holds it out, and it's a switchblade. And he tells me, protect yourself. So now I got a switchblade in one hand, turkey baste in the other.

And we go to the deli, you know, the sus illegal one that's always doing something wrong, but it's your fam, so it's okay. And when we tell him what happens, he also looks at me like, man, that could have been you. He reaches down, takes something out, and he holds it out, and it's a switchblade. And he tells me, protect yourself. So now I got a switchblade in one hand, turkey baste in the other.

And we go to the deli, you know, the sus illegal one that's always doing something wrong, but it's your fam, so it's okay. And when we tell him what happens, he also looks at me like, man, that could have been you. He reaches down, takes something out, and he holds it out, and it's a switchblade. And he tells me, protect yourself. So now I got a switchblade in one hand, turkey baste in the other.

And I kind of just shoved both of them in my pockets, like, yo, what's more sus than this? And I'm still really panicking, like, man, I'm going to get in trouble. There's cops everywhere. And I didn't want to run the streets like this. But I go home, and I'm still thinking, like, this could have been me. And I'm starting to realize there's a world bigger than just getting in trouble.

And I kind of just shoved both of them in my pockets, like, yo, what's more sus than this? And I'm still really panicking, like, man, I'm going to get in trouble. There's cops everywhere. And I didn't want to run the streets like this. But I go home, and I'm still thinking, like, this could have been me. And I'm starting to realize there's a world bigger than just getting in trouble.

And I kind of just shoved both of them in my pockets, like, yo, what's more sus than this? And I'm still really panicking, like, man, I'm going to get in trouble. There's cops everywhere. And I didn't want to run the streets like this. But I go home, and I'm still thinking, like, this could have been me. And I'm starting to realize there's a world bigger than just getting in trouble.

And fast forward, I'm in school, and I'm thinking I'm bad, and I'm telling my friends, like, yo, I got a switchblade, you know, like, I'm boss. And my teacher starts to overhear, and she goes, Aisha, what was that? And I tell her, like, oh, I have a switchblade. And she gives me the same look, like something's about to happen, and I'm scared, I'm going to get in trouble.

And fast forward, I'm in school, and I'm thinking I'm bad, and I'm telling my friends, like, yo, I got a switchblade, you know, like, I'm boss. And my teacher starts to overhear, and she goes, Aisha, what was that? And I tell her, like, oh, I have a switchblade. And she gives me the same look, like something's about to happen, and I'm scared, I'm going to get in trouble.

And fast forward, I'm in school, and I'm thinking I'm bad, and I'm telling my friends, like, yo, I got a switchblade, you know, like, I'm boss. And my teacher starts to overhear, and she goes, Aisha, what was that? And I tell her, like, oh, I have a switchblade. And she gives me the same look, like something's about to happen, and I'm scared, I'm going to get in trouble.

I always do the right thing, but I get in trouble. And she stops me, and she goes, Aisha, if you ever have to, go for the eyes of the jugular. And I'm thinking, damn, I can get my straw in my Capri Sun. How am I supposed to defend myself?

I always do the right thing, but I get in trouble. And she stops me, and she goes, Aisha, if you ever have to, go for the eyes of the jugular. And I'm thinking, damn, I can get my straw in my Capri Sun. How am I supposed to defend myself?

I always do the right thing, but I get in trouble. And she stops me, and she goes, Aisha, if you ever have to, go for the eyes of the jugular. And I'm thinking, damn, I can get my straw in my Capri Sun. How am I supposed to defend myself?

But after this moment, I started to realize being a girl meant taking that turkey base there, taking that switchblade, taking literally anything in front of you to protect yourself, because the world won't do it for you. Thank you.