Have you ever walked into a room and felt like you didn’t belong, not because of anything you said, but because of what you looked like? I am a teenager who wears a turban. In America, I realize many people may have never seen a Sikh person in their life. When I walk into an unfamiliar place where I am the only one wearing a turban, I am always expected to explain my identity with pride, but I am also left to cope with the exhaustion that comes with it.
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My first day of high school was a disaster: We were supposed to do icebreakers, and had to share something unique about ourselves. When it was my turn, I said I was Sikh. Immediately after I said that, multiple hands shot up. People turned to ask me why I wore a turban and what it meant.
I was already nervous. But as more questions came in, I felt more like a walking textbook. No one saw my values or hobbies; Just the Sikh boy who is different. This experience isn’t just unique to me; it’s shared with thousands of students around the world — being reduced to a stereotype and expected to educate just to be accepted.
Representation isn’t always powerful and good; it can be tiring, and that’s OK. The problem isn’t curiosity itself, but it’s the pressure the questions place on the person answering. We don’t need to stop asking about culture, but we should take the time to get to know each other as individuals first.
Start with questions like “Tell me more about yourself,” or “What do you like to do?” This small shift isn’t hard — it just takes empathy, understanding and a heart. Maybe if everyone paused and simply put themselves in the others’ shoes, we could turn these spaces of anxiety and discomfort into a welcoming hug. With a Perspective, I’m Ansh Singh.
Ansh Singh is a high school senior, currently living in North Carolina. He visits the Bay Area and enjoys going on hikes, spending time with his family and running cross country.
This story was originally published on Perspectives, KQED, and republished through the India Currents-KQED collaborative.
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