50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen Tanabe

Author:Gen Tanabe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: -
Publisher: SuperCollege
Published: 2018-06-13T16:00:00+00:00

“My Lumpy Head”

Anonymous

“DOES THE LUMP ON YOUR HEAD hurt?” I have heard this question countless times throughout my life, as most strangers that I encounter judge me on the basis of my appearance. My hair is waistlength, quite peculiar for a boy. The reason for this is because my Sikh religion requires males to have uncut hair and wear a turban in order to keep their hair orderly and protected, as hair is considered God’s gift. As per my Sikh faith, I choose to abide by this tenet and keep my long hair tied up in a bun and knotted by a bandana-like cloth, called a “patka.” However, this leaves a 4-5 inch protrusion on my head which is most often the subject of discussion, and unfortunately mockery, by those around me.

As a young child, kids pulled on my hair and mistook me for a girl. Growing up, I was picked on and found myself the last person chosen for partner exercises. My fifth grade teacher once jokingly told the class that I was “mining gold” under my patka, and I was commonly referred to as the “turbanator” in school. These incidents are a painful reminder of how I am treated differently due to my outward appearance. Deep inside I fully understand the reasons why people behave in such a way. I am indeed different looking, someone who deviates from the norm, and it is the innate nature of man to react with apprehension to something unfamiliar. While even today I am subject to smirks, glares, and the occasional rude remark by strangers, I have come to embrace my uniqueness. It is not a flaw, but rather an essential part of my character and being. I have learned that being a Sikh in America requires the nurturing of a strong inner sense of identity, and this is something that I have gained through becoming an active member of my local Sikh church, called a “Gurdwara.”

The Gurdwara is a place where Sikh families congregate and worship at least twice a week, and has become an important meeting place for the Sikh community. At the Gurdwara I have the company of a group of Sikh youth, therefore providing a forum where we can converse about matters affecting our community. I have taken advantage of this opportunity by volunteering as a Youth Advisor, a position which allows me to teach other Sikhs at the Gurdwara about how to tackle problems similar to those I experienced growing up. Reflecting on my own experiences with my youth group has been an enlightening experience. A Sikh boy recently told me how he hates his hair because students pick on him at school, and I felt great pride sharing my insights to help nurture him as a diverse and special individual. I know that my participation as a youth volunteer is beneficial for not only me to reflect on my challenges but also for the children because they finally have someone to whom they can relate. I help them understand that keeping hair, as a tenet of their faith, is a personal decision.

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