My Name is Not Jackie Chan

by CJ

When I started sixth grade, I had lived in the U.S. for one year. When I arrived, I spoke only Chinese. I had no idea what anyone was talking about. In sixth grade I cussed everybody out, because they were all talking about me, and I thought they were racist. They called me Jackie Chan for no reason, even though my name is Cheng. I felt mad,and upset.

One day, I could not contain myself. One person was calling my name and making fun of me. I said “What's up?” and other words I don't want to repeat. “Why are you making fun of my name when I didn't even do nothing to you? You think this is funny?”

“Yeah, I think it is funny,” he replied.

I said, “What you wanna do?” We were face to face, and he repeated what I had said, mocking my accent. I felt so mad and embarrassed, because a lot of people were around, and I was different from everyone else. I could not wait to feel my hand slam into his face. I didn't expect myself to fight, but it happened so fast. Before I knew what I was doing, my hand was already on his face, and he came right back at me. Students started to gather around us, and then the principal arrived to break it up.

When we got to the office, we had to talk about how the fight started. Of course, I was the one who started the fight, but I didn't want to admit it. I told the principal how he had talked to me. I felt like I had no choice but to say I had put my hands on him. We both got suspended for five days, and had to call our parents to come pick us up. My dad only has one day off a week, and my mom is always busy. And I knew my dad would be mad.

As time passed, I started to change. I never wanted my mom and dad to come to school again, so I avoided fighting, even when people made fun of me. I would just walk away like nothing had happened.

Now that I'm in eighth grade I'm more mature, and people also make fun of me less. I've made friends who stand up for me, and I can totally control my anger. I think in high school, I'll be normal like everyone else. I don't want to be special, I just want to be a normal teenager.