Issac Newton has said, "We build too many walls and not enough bridges." This quote shows how many people tend to box themselves in, and they do not get to grow and prosper comfortably. They have people judging them all the time with all kinds of stereotypes. Once you have been put into the box, you try to find a way out of it, but you can never shake the feeling. I have felt this way many times, and each time it gives me the impression that I am not good enough, but I try not to let that go to my heart because if I did, then I know it would not be good for me.
One of my experiences is with my culture and learning to not be afraid of being cultural outside of my home. We have multiple diversity days at my school where we dress up as our culture, but I never have, except for once.
That was sixth grade, and it was my very first "show-where-you-come-from-day," and I did. I wore my traditional, everyday Indian clothes, excited to show everyone who I really was inside, and when I got to school many people were wearing Indian clothes. But everyone, along with those who were also wearing Indian attire, stared me down. After a whole day of bearing through odd glances and stares thrown my way, my so-called "friend" came up to me and asked why I was wearing Indian clothes. Then he said something that I will never forget,"Why do you have to embarrass us like this? We Indians already have a hard time getting things in this world, and by doing this you made it harder." After he said that, I had no clue what to reply, so I simply walked away. Ever since then, I've felt like I can never wear Indian clothes in public again. I could not represent my culture, because my own people felt it should be repressed.
After that day and conversation, I have never stepped foot out of my house wearing Indian clothes to school or any public area because of these feelings. I could not show the world who I was. I had to hide my true identity. Being boxed in this strange mix of emotions stripped me of my confidence, and the worst part is, you can never truly get that back. As much as you will hate that feeling, you will move on in the end and continue to grow to your fullest potential possible. Take that horrible memory and rewrite it. Don't let them tell you what you can and cannot wear when it comes to your culture. Not everyone will accept it, maybe not even people from your culture, but that's OK. You do you.
