A huge thank you to all who took the time to enter the 2025 Solano County Library Teen Writing Contest!

We were honored to read your work, and encourage each of you to continue writing.

Please enjoy the winning entry below!

SHORT STORY WINNER

Who Am I

The Voice of a Teen Discovering Me

by Vaanya Tiwari

“Eww, what is that?” I still remember the sting of those words as I sat in the school cafeteria with my mom’s homemade rajma chawal (Indian food). At that moment, I realized how different I was from everyone else. While they had their food, I had my rice, and suddenly, my food became a symbol of how my cultural identity set me apart. Understanding my cultural identity as an Indian-American has been crucial in navigating the challenges of balancing two worlds. It has shaped how I connect with my heritage, embrace my uniqueness, and learn to stand strong in a new environment. At one point in time, I often questioned whether embracing my Indian roots would make me seem too different or disconnected from the American environment I was trying to adapt to. A strong metaphor for my experience is food itself.

I was born in India. We immigrated to the U.S. when I was nine. My parents have always held onto Indian traditions and values, which have influenced how I see the world. Soon, my sister had to return to India to complete her studies, while I was left alone. As soon as my parents started working again, I started going to school too. I was so excited to go to school to meet new people and make new friends, but that excitement faded when I met the sad reality behind it—everything was fine until my teacher introduced me to the class. “This is Vaanya, and she isn’t just new to our school, but to our country, so let’s welcome her.” It was then that I saw others’ expressions; some didn’t care, and some reacted more than I anticipated. I was getting bullied and embarrassed every day for being new to the country. Even though I never had a language barrier, my peers started making fun of my food and pointing it out. As a child, it affected me a lot because I was different from them. I used to fear sitting with any of my peers during lunch. I had no friends, and when I sat alone during breaks, I realized what a demotion I had faced, going from being the most popular at my old school to becoming the most ignored and hated. Not everyone disliked me, but not everyone wanted to be around me. It influenced me a lot, being seen as an alien. I never used to share anything with my parents because I knew how stressed they already were, trying to manage things for us.

I was so tired of being mocked every second while being all by myself, even in group projects. I was forcefully seated between people who were disgusted by my food. I stopped eating lunch. I used to starve during lunch and didn’t get food from school because it was mostly meat, and I was a vegetarian. I couldn’t bear it anymore, so the next morning I asked my mom not to cook for me, but instead to make me a sandwich or pasta. “Mumma, don’t make roties for me today. How about you make me something good and easy instead?” When my mom replied, “It’s alright, it isn’t that hard,” I interrupted, “Nooo, just put some mayo in the bread, I don’t mind,” and she did. That day, I proudly opened my lunch box. The bullies were ready, but so was I. Day after day, it felt amazing, and people started interacting with me. Everything was going great so far until my parents decided to move. I wasn’t happy about that, but I somehow decided to adapt to the new environment of Fairfield from L.A., and another thing awaited me. My new school brought a running question to my mind, “Would I have to go through all that again?” I didn’t know the answer, and I was scared. But they say, when it’s least expected, miracles happen. My sister introduced me to someone special: Lord Krishna. He is commonly portrayed with a serene and enchanting countenance, adorned with a gentle smile that radiates warmth and kindness. His eyes, often depicted as large and expressive, are said to be like lotus petals, captivating the hearts of devotees with their deep and soulful gaze.

My curiosity started to develop, and I wanted to know more about my religion and culture. I wanted to identify my cultural identity. I started searching and found a video titled “Who Am I?” An elderly woman describes how her identity was questioned for switching her religion. She said, “I didn’t cheat on my American culture or my religion by turning Hindu, but I chose to be with God. To prove my point, it states in the Aquarian Gospel of Christianity that all of us, even those from different cultures, know of Christ.” Not many people know it, but Jesus went to “Vrindavan” and “Puri” in India, as he did all around, and learned about Krishna. He traveled to Jagannath Puri and was introduced to God with a different accent, as Krooshna. Returning, he started to spread the gospel, identifying himself as the son of God. In the European accent, Krooshna became Christa, and finally Christ, leading to the birth of Christianity.” While I don’t see this as proof of history, I found the idea meaningful because it reminded me how faiths often overlap in unexpected ways. It felt less like a claim about religion and more like a reminder that spiritual traditions are deeply connected. Another example that strengthened this realization is the sound Aum (Om) in Hinduism and Buddhism and Amen in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Although their origins are different, both are powerful spiritual sounds. Aum is known as the primordial vibration of the universe, while Amen (or Ameen in Urdu and Arabic) means “so be it.” The similarity in sound between Aum and Amen echoes the same truth: across cultures and languages, people found different ways of expressing reverence, connection, and faith. This knowledge gave me back my determination, faith, and understanding that people aren’t bad; they’re just unaware of where you come from or what situation you’re in. We are all one, divided only by today’s thinking. One may not accept the other, but the truth is that everything is connected in different ways.

The next morning, I woke up early for another first day at school. “Mumma, what’s for lunch?” My mom replied, “Well, I made your favorite rajma, but I doubt you want to take that to school.” I responded, “Nooo, I’ll take it.” During lunch, our entire class sat together. I opened my lunch proudly in the cafeteria when another kid stared at my food, laughed, and asked, “EWW, WHAT IS THAT?” I replied briskly, “It’s food that you’re disrespecting! It’s what my mom makes fresh for me every day. Don’t you feel weird eating that burrito in your hands wrapped in a tortilla with pinto beans? This is the same, wheat tortillas known as chapati, with rice and pinto beans on top, just called rajma chawal, which means beans and rice in English.” One of the girls from my class interrupted, “Can I try it?” I said, “If you don’t have any allergies to mustard, then sure.” She tasted my lunch. “It must be bad,” said another student. She replied, “Oh no, it’s so good! Tomorrow, bring more for me.” Another day, I starved during lunch, but this time because they ate more than half of my lunch. I was upset but also happy. My spirituality became a grounding force, reminding me that my identity is shaped by more than external perceptions. It has helped me cultivate inner strength and resilience in navigating the complexities of cultural differences.

In conclusion, cultural identity is more than just the food we eat, the languages we speak, or the traditions we follow. It’s about how we navigate the challenges of balancing multiple worlds and finding pride in where we come from. As I continue to grow, I realize that my cultural identity is not a burden but a strength. Just as rajma chawal may look different from a burrito, both are fundamentally nourishing, made with care, and represent a culture’s way of providing comfort and sustenance. In the same way, I’ve come to realize that my cultural identity, although different from others, holds value and meaning, whether others understand it or not. Like food, culture reflects who we are, and learning to embrace it is essential to understanding oneself. It shapes not only who I am today but also the person I am becoming, someone who can bridge the gap between cultures and help others understand the beauty in diversity.