My name is Ruby Bridges, and this is the story of how I made a difference in the world when I was only 6 years old.

I was born on September 8, 1954 in Tylertown, Mississippi. My mama was named Lucille and my daddy was named Abon, we moved from Mississipi to Lousiana when I was 4 years old in search of a better life. We did not know then, but we would make a decision that would impact the lives of children for years to come.

When I was a little girl, the world was very different. Some people thought that if you were not white, you did not deserve the best things in life. This was very unfair, and it did not make sense. So, even when I was growing up, there were laws being made to protect people of color from discrimination.

Because of laws like Brown V. The Board of Education, schools were mandated to desegregate, which meant that I could go to school with white children.

This was important because even though life was said to be "separate but equal", African-American people did not have the same rights or opportunities as White Americans.

Things were changing slowly, but surely. Even though schools were technically integrated in 1954, I still attended a segregated school in Kindergarten. Louisiana, along with the other Southern states, were not excited about the new laws. In fact, they opposed them, and tried their hardest to prevent African-Americans from getting their rights.

In 1960, the federal court mandated Louisiana to desegregate public schools, but this was met with a lot of opposition. Even though it was our right to enroll in all-white schools, African-American children were made to take entrance exams to qualify for enrollment. Only myself and five others passed.

My mama and daddy debated over enrolling me in an all-white school, my dad was afraid, but my mom convinced him to let me enroll because they both agreed I deserved a better education.

My first day of school was November 14th,1960. There were crowds of people shouting at me and my mom, they did not want us to enter their school. My entire first day was spent in the principal's office. I could not see how things would get better.

When I would enter the school, I was escorted by Federal Marshals, they would always tell me to look forward. I knew they said this so I wouldn't see the signs and angry faces, but I was looking much further ahead. To a future where no child would ever have to endure this again. To a future where all are equal.