Pallavi Joy,
Philadelphia, PA

Growing up in a 97% white school system, and being raised by one Indian immigrant parent and one Indian American parent really affected the way I saw myself and my race. I was always too brown in school to fit in with all the white kids, but in Indian circles I was too American. Not fully fitting in with my American culture or Indian culture is a defining feature of my life whether or not I want it to be. I am still learning how to love my dual cultures.