I am a young American adult, just like you. I love watching Sunday night football, randomly dancing without warning and drinking Starbucks while pulling an all-nighter to ace that exam. But when you look at me, many of you don't see the similarities — you see the differences. One day in history makes you question my citizenship and makes you think my religion is violent. One day in history changed my life forever: Sept. 11, 2001.

I remember the place, time and what I was wearing on that day. I was sitting in Mrs. Malerba's fourth grade class at Public School 212 in Brooklyn, N.Y., the only place I knew as home. No one knew what was happening, but the minute students began slowly leaving early, I knew something was not right. Before I even had time to ask, my name was next.

When my mom picked me up, I knew something really bad must have happened. Mom told me not to worry, but she was crying. My home was only three blocks away and it was the longest walk I ever had, waiting in suspense to get home and finally understand what exactly was going on. It took one minute of watching the local news for me to understand that my life just changed before my very eyes.

The word Islam means "peace through the submission to God." Peace is the key word. Nowadays, when people think of Islam, they usually don't think of peace. A group of extremists changed the entire perception of Islam from peace to violence in just a few hours. They always say it can take a second to destroy a lifetime of trust, but never in my life did I understand that concept until then.

As kids, we were always told not to follow the crowd, to always listen before we speak and the only people whose opinions matter are the people you love. But what happens when it is parents who teach blind hatred of others to their child?

I had a kid come up to me once and ask me if I was Muslim. When I said yes, he told me he felt bad for me because he knows people don't like me anymore. He was very sweet and reassured me that no matter what his mom said, he would always like me.

So what are parents teaching their kids? What happens when the people you were always taught to listen to give you misguided beliefs and opinions?

Terrorism does not mean Islam and Islam does not mean violence or hatred. Not every act of violence has a Muslim behind it. I saw that assumption firsthand after the tragedy in Norway. Journalists and civilians everywhere thought this was an act of al-Qaida or another Muslim terrorist cell immediately after the story went public. It broke my heart because even the Muslim Norwegians feared the bomber was a Muslim.

I often sit back and think what my life would be like if that day never happened. Would I still live in New York? After all, the only reason my parents moved us away from the city was because of Sept. 11. Would I be at Elon right now? Would I constantly feel like I am being judged, like the time a clerk at a mall left all her other customers just to keep an eye on me at a store? I don't really know.

What I do know is I am here now, that day did happen and my life has changed. I have accepted that. Life is what you make it and the minute that I let that day stop me from reaching my dreams is the day I let al-Qaida win.

Yes, I am an Arab. Yes, I am a Muslim. But I am also an American and I am a good person — just like you.

Editor's Note: In the Sept. 14 edition of The Pendulum, we incorrectly identified Ronda Ataalla class status at Elon. She is a junior.