I wish I was braver
I was at Tafe the other day trying to enrol in my course. The lady at the administration office asked me for some personal details, which I didn’t mind. It was necessary. She asked me if I currently reside in Australia. I said yes. Then she asked me if I am an Australian citizen. I said yes. She replied with “permanent resident”. I repeated myself again just in case she didn’t hear me. She kept insisting that I was a permanent resident not a citizen.
Seriously. Yes. I am Asian and I look it. But judging me based off that is racial profiling and not acceptable.
I was stunned at her vehemence and her refusal to accept my word without proof. Does being a person of colour make me appear more untrustworthy than a white person? Obviously, she wouldn’t make such a fuss if I had been caucasian because she would have just assumed my nationality.
I hate it. I felt powerless and uncomfortable because I knew she could refuse to process my application. It made me feel sick.
