Connecting with your culture. Connecting with yourself. | Gauri Varma | TEDxUWCSEAEast

A 15-year-old who believes her roots are stronger than her branches. Gauri Varma believes in constantly evolving herself through her journey as she learns about the way the world works in this constantly changing environment. This is her narrative about growing up in, disconnecting and reconnecting with her culture in the International community. We all have our own stories and experiences that have helped shape our cultural identity. In my talk, I hope to share mine. In my early years, facing and witnessing racism in its raw form has taught me that no one should feel embarrassed of their background. I turned the negative experiences into positive lessons and this journey of discovery has allowed me to appreciate my culture deeply. Our culture is more than just “where we come from”, it’s our value system from our upbringing that drives our everyday life. If there is one thing I have learned during my cultural disconnect and reconnect, it’s that connecting with one’s culture is one of the many ways one can connect with themself. By attaching myself to my culture, I have attached myself to my true, core being. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx