Voices

From DIGITIZE (by Sophia) – For this program, I decided to write about a Korean birthday, written as a collection of free-write poems, each poem being an aspect of the birthday.

From DIGITIZE (by Ojas) – Think of the last time you were sad, down, or just not feeling it. What did you do? Maybe you went for a walk, texted a friend, or just put on a song. I started noticing the importance of music around 16. My family always had music going during car rides, it was never really a big deal, just something in the background. And at the age of 11, when I moved to Seattle from India, I realized at some point that I was doing the exact same thing on my own, putting on songs by artists like Drake whenever I was in a mood and needed to get out of it. It wasn’t Indian music I was reaching for, but looking back, it was the same thing I’d been watching my family do the whole time.

From DIGITIZE (by Neil) – Food is a big part of Indian culture. It is not just something people eat when they are hungry. It can also be connected to family, religion, and traditions that people grow up with. When I interviewed my mom, she told me that even though she does not follow every religious rule, some food traditions have still stayed with her.

From DIGITIZE (by Devansh) – Holidays often represent a family’s most fond memories together. For me, Diwali is where I made some of my best memories with my family, memories that I’ll be able to cherish throughout my life. It is a holiday filled with lights, fireworks, food, family and traditions, but there is much more behind it than what you see. Every little part of Diwali has a meaning, and celebrating it gives me a way to connect with my family and my culture. 

From DIGITIZE (by Amira) – Growing up, I always noticed how the people around me were very careful about who they put their trust in, especially when it concerned their health. Trust was not something that was automatically given to someone because they were a doctor, teacher, or really any other professional. It was something that had to be built. A person became easier to trust when they were known through family, shared a religion or culture, or had some connection to someone you already knew.