Start taking notes, because my list is long.

Where I’m from, you can drink alcohol at 18. So when I moved here to go to college, I got a fake ID. I used it for three years—and only stopped using it as often when my 21st birthday got close.

Do I use drugs now? No. I don’t think of weed as a drug. And you can’t tell me that weed is going to make me stupid: I have a perfect 4.0. My best friend is a med student at one of the nation’s top schools—and she smokes all the time.

But back to my list.

I’ve driven all around the country with weed on me; I’ve flown with it in my laptop bag. I’ve consumed mushrooms and sold amphetamine salts to other students on campus. I’ve worked under the table—and then used the money to party.

I know I’ve got white privilege. Being white gives me extraordinary power here. Just be careful, the cops tell me. Go home. 

Knowing my privilege is one thing. Now I want to do something about it. I want to help other people. In the position I’m in now—that’s something I can do.