“Food allergies do not need restrictions or require blue paper barriers but instead more knowledge, empathy, and generalized understanding by the public.”
For most elementary students, the biggest question they ask themselves is, “Where should I sit at lunch today?” However, this was never the case for me. I longed to be able to ask myself where, but I never could. In a secluded corner of the cafeteria was a lunch table set with a piece of blue paper ripped from a giant roll. That was my seat. Sitting there was not because I was an outcast; I just had a nut allergy.
When I was two, my parents gave me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Why would they think anything of it? There were no food allergies in my family. But that is what makes me unique. All it took was for my lips to graze the sandwich before my body became overrun by hives. From then on, we knew I had a nut allergy. Later, my heterogeneity began to emerge in other aspects of my life. It was prominent when I was the only sophomore at my school who doubled up with Biology and Chemistry. I learned Chemistry was something that I adored and would love to pursue further. As a junior, I went on to take multiple chemistry classes consisting of only seniors. Once they graduated, I became the sole student in my chemistry classes, sitting alone with my teachers for weeks. These differences brought introspective moments. Having a nut allergy did not make me weak; it made me adaptable. Loving Chemistry did not make me a nerd; it provided me with classes I was passionate about in school.
My allergy meant unnecessarily missing out on opportunities because others were hypervigilant around me. The blue paper was not the school’s only method of making me separated from others. When students brought birthday treats, I was prohibited from eating them, even if they did not contain nuts. At a young age, I believed I was missing out on the best part of the day, and I yearned to celebrate with my friends. I was being unnecessarily babied and isolated by my teachers, a feeling that was hard to shake.
Despite the struggles that come with having a nut allergy, it no longer prevents me from participating in activities I enjoy. I know my limits and make decisions regarding my own safety. I sit where I want at lunch, go to restaurants with my friends, and take part in a variety of activities. The blue paper has now been removed from my seat at the elementary school lunch table. I am free to be the person that I want to be, not just the girl with the nut allergy. With that said, everything happens for a reason, and I would not be the person I am today without it. As I head to college, I am committed to my higher education rather than focusing on potential limitations. Food allergies do not need restrictions or require blue paper barriers but instead more knowledge, empathy, and generalized understanding by the public.
- Peyton