This might be a hot take, but I usually dread Halloween.
As Blair Waldorf said in Gossip Girl, Halloween is “the one day of the year it’s socially acceptable to play dress-up.” For me, Halloween is always the one time of year where I’m made to feel unworthy simply for a peanut allergy.
I’m very fortunate that my peanut allergy was caught at a young age, and I’ve never experienced any allergic reactions throughout my life. My older sister is also allergic to peanuts and most tree nuts, so our childhood home was always free of those foods. But the real world isn’t as accommodating, and Halloween usually consisted of me throwing out candy that I received after trick-or-treating or not partaking in any Halloween-related activities at all.
To make matters worse, I’ve had classmates who mocked me for my allergy and even threatened to touch me while eating their peanut butter candy. I was always told to be responsible and carry an Epi-Pen with me, but it never seemed like the rest of the world could catch up. During my freshman year of college, I even had a professor who brought peanut butter candy into our classroom after promising that she wouldn’t (then she proceeded to say that she doesn’t like “allergy friendly,” or peanut-free, candy). Because of these situations, it’s safe to say that I was never able to enjoy Halloween in the same way others could.
 Although it sometimes feels this way, I am far from the only person with a peanut allergy. According to the Food Allergy of Research and Education (FARE), over six million people in the U.S. have peanut allergies. FARE also said that 33 million U.S. citizens suffer from at least one food allergy, and over 40% of children have experienced allergic reactions such as anaphylactic shock. Despite these statistics, allergies aren’t always taken seriously and can lead to a lifetime of shame or embarrassment for affected individuals.Â
While plenty of people are sensitive to food allergies, I still think we have a long way to go. Small changes, such as asking your friends about their dietary restrictions before hosting a party or serving food everyone can safely eat at a social gathering, can go a long way in making others more comfortable. No one should feel ashamed for having an allergy or any other medical ailment that’s completely out of someone’s control.Â
I am painfully aware that some people still won’t understand my experiences, but I’m now focused on celebrating Halloween in my own ways. Last year, I had the pleasure of performing at the Chapman Dance Alliance (CDA) showcase, allowing me to participate in something I loved while creating a positive memory for myself during a contentious time of the year. Now that I’m a member of Chapman’s cross country team, I competed at the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) cross country championships the day before Halloween and even went to a teammate’s Halloween party (I also dressed up this year after going 10 consecutive years without wearing a costume!). Halloween is all about having fun and expressing yourself, and I now know that I’m worthy of enjoying Halloween like everyone else.Â
At the end of the day, I know I’m only responsible for myself. Instead of letting Halloween exacerbate my insecurities, I want to reclaim this holiday for myself and continue to make positive memories.Â