Isolation.
Depression.
Empty promises.
Fake smiles.
Betrayal.
Feelings.
These are the necessities of brokenness.

Racism.
Hypocrisy.
Politics.
Discrimination.
Humiliation.
These are the necessities of war.

Respect.
Trust.
        Love.
Peace.
       These are the necessities of life.

I am a Chamoru
I am a daughter of The Mariana Islands
I am part of something greater than myself
I have over a hundred years of culture, love, pain, and unity running through my veins
I am a Chamoru
I am strong
I am unique
I may not speak my native tongue fluently
I may not look exactly like my ancestors
But I am not and will never ashamed of my culture
I will not run from who I am
I will sing my Island's hymn with my whole heart
I will respect my elders
I will continue to learn my language everyday
And I will one day teach my children everything I know about where they came from