Reflecting on childhood experiences, it's easy to understand why students assimilate. In elementary school I was fearful of bringing my own cultural foods to school because I'd see my classmates laugh when other people did it. They'd cringe at the smell, or call it nasty, all just for seeing foods that were unfamiliar to them. So, hiding that part of yourself seemed like the best way to not get picked on growing up. Even today, students are still feeling pressured to assimilate for safety reasons, or even to avoid getting bullied by their peers. But what is assimilation anyway? Assimilation is when a minority integrates socially, culturally, and/or politically into a larger, dominant culture and society. I think students shouldn't give up their cultural identity when in a new environment. Because although it might feel like the best thing to do, it's dangerous straying from your culture. Though it's pressuring to fit in, you become more and more distanced from ...