TEEN TALK Storytelling and our Cultural Narrative J BY JASLEEN KINDRA, NEWCASTLE RESIDENT AND STUDENT WRITER asleen is a Senior at Liberty High School and a Newcastle resident. She is involved with our community through school, extracurriculars, local events, and volunteer work. I have always believed in the power of storytelling. It all began when my Naniji (grandmother) gifted me a journal in fifth grade, which inspired me to write down three things I was grateful for every night before falling asleep, just as she did. In time, my love for documenting my thoughts and ideas grew, and I began to pay more attention to the broader narratives that shape our individual stories, home lives, and entire cultures. Cultural narratives are the stories and beliefs that help us create our identity and give us structure and meaning. They can be found in many forms, such as recorded history, myths, religion, and customs. These narratives bind us together as a society, establish moral and ethical boundaries, and set societal norms. To integrate within a culture or community, we must adopt and practice the cultural narratives that are valued by that group. As I grew older, I became increasingly fascinated by the concept of cultural narratives. I realized that they play a crucial role in shaping our worldview and providing us with a sense of belonging and purpose. The stories we tell ourselves and each other about who we are, where we come from, and what we believe in are integral to our sense of self and cultural identity. However, I also came to understand that cultural narratives can be limiting and exclusionary. Stereotypes associated with a particular culture or community can perpetuate narrow views and leave individuals feeling out of place. In my case, conforming to the stereotypes associated with my South Asian culture provided me with a sense of comfort, but it also left me feeling stuck in between. It was only when a friend suggested that being Indian American meant I could create my own culture that I began to embrace the idea that culture is subjective and ever-changing. At the very least, having conversations and being open to changing some of the traditions in your culture will empower others to share their own narratives without judgment, and in doing so, we can build stronger communities and foster a greater sense of empathy and understanding. No one should feel like they don’t belong in their cultural community due to Western influence, feel too cultural for the Western world, or feel alienated in any 28 April 2024 way. If you have to conform to something that you truly are not to fit into any category, then that is not acceptance or connection, that is erasure and invisibility. As someone who has experienced the power of storytelling firsthand, whether it’s through art, music, dance, or literature, I am committed to preserving and sharing cultural narratives in all their forms. Every narrative has value and deserves to be heard. In preserving our cultural narratives, we empower future generations by sharing the stories that have shaped us and helped us find our place in the world. I certainly wish I had a “how to” guide from my future self, but my future generation will have some guidance to use however best fits. By embracing the diversity of cultural narratives, we can create a legacy of storytelling and cultural exchange that will continue to connect and inspire people for generations to come. Every narrative holds intrinsic value and merits acknowledgment. In safeguarding these narratives, we provide future generations with a reservoir of stories that have shaped us and guided our sense of belonging. Although I lack a “how-to” guide from my future self, I hope to contribute to a narrative legacy that offers guidance for generations to come. In our everyday moments, from scribbled thoughts in a gratitude journal to shared stories, there’s an inherent power that connects us all. It’s in these simple acts of writing and storytelling that we find the essence of what makes us human, weaving together the importance of our thoughts, narratives, and the stories we tell because at the very least, it could change one person’s life.
29 Publizr Home