What South Asians experience?

In middle school it became a trend to be blatantly and openly racist to South Asians, in particular, Indians. People who used to surround me began to view me with scornful eyes, as if my existence was a sin. The discrimination I experienced, and still do, negatively affected my self- esteem, placing me in a vulnerable state. I wanted to look like and act like everyone else. Other children would claim my race was the only reason I was smart, and so, although my class rank was higher than others, my self-confidence was at an all-time low. In my last months of middle school, we had a Cultural Appreciation Day. Students take part in a potluck, wearing clothes representing their cultures. I was desperate to hide my identity, ashamed of how I would be treated if I wore something too vulgar, or if the home-cooked food my mother cooked with admiration would be listed as an abomination and remain untouched. Like most children, I looked to a trusted adult, to help me understand and deal with the mental blockades holding me back. My art teacher who always believed in the expression of oneself sat me down and told me a truth that would stick with me forever. She told me how I determine my own worth, and that if I show that I am embarrassed, I would give satisfaction to those who disliked me just because of how I looked. I suddenly remembered how she had us paint self portraits and many young students could not get their shade right, so our teacher playfully laughed at us and told us that we could be anything we wanted to. I painted myself blue, and my friend was red. Abnormal as we were, there were no boundaries or barriers holding us back, as in the end, we were all just different shades of paint. We are all human, and diversity is our strength. It is proven through science that a biodiverse environment is more likely to succeed than any other. So, on Cultural Appreciation Day, I proudly wore my Kurta and brought Jalebi to school. My parents waved me off with unimaginably big smiles, proud of how the next generation had not erased their livelihoods, but instead, spread it. My love for my culture will never cease to exist, even if that means I have to share it in the form of syrupy sweets. Through this experience I learned that adversity is a struggle almost all individuals face, and through perseverance and determination, we can overcome our challenges and become stronger. My admiration for my own culture is what led me to this program, as I can appreciate the challenges of showing one’s true self. By being a part of this program and learning about other cultures I know that I will only further my profound interest in cultural immersion and the importance of diversity.