Immersing Myself in the Unfamiliar
My parents were only 22 when they left India and moved halfway around the world. As a child of immigrants I was lucky to grow up as a global citizen without even knowing I was one. I took my first trip to India when I was a year old, and my most recent one last February. Each time I learn something new, not just about India but about myself.
Traveling abroad—immersing myself in the unfamiliar, meeting new people whose experiences are so different from mine, exploring new landscapes and learning about other cultures—is one of my favorite things to do, especially as a second-generation American. Growing up I didn’t always feel like I belonged in my community, but I did when I traveled. I knew I was part of a global community that transcends borders, and that every one of us belongs and can learn from and teach one another.
Now I get to share that global citizenship with my very American children, and I love watching how it shapes their minds and inspires their values. I love that they already realize how valuable it is to #livelikeleo. They know how much the world has to teach them. I feel so grateful for that.
Urmila Taylor, Advisory Board
