Who am I? - Aditya Vijayalaya

My name is Aditya Vijayalaya. I am in 7th grade. I go to ASU Preparatory Academy (Polytechnic Campus). As an Indian American, I’ve seen many Indian Americans either reject their roots in India or denounce Western Culture. I feel many of them are pressured to have to choose. Well, I’m here to say: you don’t have to choose, you can embrace both. Yes, you are Indian, but you are also American. Yes, you are American, but you are also Indian. I have an American accent, I collect Funko Pops!, and I listen to Heavy Metal. But I also eat Indian food everyday, go to India every year, and generally, I am proud of my roots. These cross-cultural differences don't just affect me, it affects all descendants of immigrants, especially 2nd generation ones. It also affects kids who were born and raised in India. Even India as a whole is becoming more western. There are McDonald’s everywhere, strip malls, Pizza Parlors, and Dunkin’ Donuts. I feel as though this affects a lot of countries, trying to become a knockoff America/Britain. This is a big problem. I think we should embrace our cultures and new changes equally. India has such a beautiful culture, with many different languages and dialects spoken. India is not just a country, it's another world, with such a rich culture. I would never want it to die out. Don’t reject your roots, or new cultures! Instead, embrace both! You can be an American and an Indian!