What it can mean to be a person of colour in our modern age. Either put down for the colour of your skin or held high as an exception. Never both. Zoe Dzapasi is a Zimbabwean-born, Kiwi-raised 16-year-old girl living in Wellington. An avid debater and self-described music connoisseur, Zoe is excited to speak about the 'polarity in stereotypes of people of colour'. Through reflection on her experiences of racism in New Zealand and how stereotyping has affected her identity, Zoe explores her personal journey of realisation, acceptance and self-confidence. A journey of coming to terms with the exceptionalism which marks life as a person of colour. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx