As a child of the Indian background, I was heavily impacted by the cultural values and teachings that are fundamental to my ethnic background. My perspective has been profoundly influenced by two teachings in particular: the idea of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" and the intergenerational learning and respect practice. These values have shaped my interactions with the outside world and directed my own personal growth.

The translation of the old Sanskrit saying "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" is "The world is one family." This deeply held conviction emphasises how all people are interconnected, despite differences in geography, culture, and race. It instills in us the belief that we are all members of one big family and fosters empathy, compassion, and a sense of global togetherness.

This idea was a way of life for me growing up, not merely a philosophical notion. It was evident in routine exchanges and neighbourhood customs. For example, festivals were observed with friends and neighbours from various backgrounds, reaffirming that our happiness and grief are shared. This education fostered an inclusive perspective and gave me a sense of belonging to the greater human family.

"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" serves as a reminder of our common humanity in today's more divided society. It inspires me to take an empathetic stance on global issues, fight for social justice, and show kindness to others regardless of their background. This idea has influenced how I view global citizenship, highlighting the value of cooperation in addressing issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change.

Intergenerational respect and learning is another fundamental lesson that has had a significant impact on my perspective on the world. Elders are respected in Indian culture for their knowledge and experience, and taking advice and lessons from them in life is highly valued. Respect is ingrained in social and familial interactions and goes beyond simple manners.

I was taught at an early age to hear my grandparents' stories, internalise their morals, and draw lessons from their life experiences. These exchanges had a profound impact on how I perceived forbearance, resiliency, and the value of preserving cultural customs. When making crucial decisions, people consulted their elders, demonstrating a group approach to problem-solving that values a variety of viewpoints.

In addition to encouraging lifelong learning and adaptability, this teaching has produced a profound reverence for tradition and continuity. In a world that is changing quickly, the knowledge from the past offers a solid base on which to construct the future. It has taught me the value of respecting the knowledge gained from earlier generations while addressing current issues, as well as the necessity of striking a balance between modernity and tradition.

My Indian ancestry is based on these two precepts, "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" and intergenerational respect and learning, which have greatly influenced my outlook on life. Values like empathy, inclusivity, global solidarity, and respect for the knowledge of the past have been ingrained in me by them. These values continue to direct my behaviour and interactions as I go through life, serving as a constant reminder of the rich cultural background that is the basis of my identity. By adopting these lessons, I may make a constructive contribution to my local community as well as the larger global family, creating a more caring, respectful, and connected world.

Networking is building and making connections and relationships with people. networking is important for many reasons such as presenting job opportunities, making professional connections, helps create new ideas and can provide you with valuable information. Networking is an important part of your everyday interactions and surprisingly enough we tend to network without even knowing it. 

My primary source of support stems from my family network, which comprises my mother, father, and my older brother. Being the youngest in the house I tend to lean all my family a lot as i do not have as much experience in life as they do. They are my main source of comfort as they are always there for me during challenging and overwhelming times, they are constantly remind me to keep pushing in life. My family always has been and always will be my life line, I did not constantly have them in my corner i would not have made it as far as I have in life. They always hold my hand when it comes to any kind of battles in life, like for example starting university. Even though I was scared to start uni and move away from home my family constantly reminded me regardless of what happens I can always come home. 

My friends are one of my most important networks. My friends and i are constantly together as if we are a family, and quite honestly I see them as my blood. As much as i would do anything for them they have also introduced me to new people and different experiences I would not normally do on my own. By meeting new people this has allowed me to meet people from different places and different backgrounds which expands my knowledge on people in different societies. This has opened my world drastically and has made me see things and experiences in a different perspective.  They remind me to have fun and to live life to the fullest which is something I am grateful to have learnt from an amazing group of people.

My lecturers are some of the most important people i have networked with. They encourage me to work hard and are always expanding my mind to see and understand things from a different perspective. My lecturers are also important people in my life as they are the people who are going to help me transition into the real world where i will use everything they have taught me inside and outside the modules.

I can remember the white walls of the hospital and the painful smell of the sanitizer that flooded the hallways. My Grandmother had been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer 3 months prior to this day. My gran and I had a very close relationship, she was like my second mother. I recall sitting on one of the most uncomfortable and cold metal chairs in the waiting room while we waited to hear what the doctor had to say. The hospital walls and floor were almost too white, the only way to describe it is the kind of white you see in movies about insane asylums. I placed my hands on the iced metal chair I was sitting on which brought my attention to my clammy hands. I did not realize that my hands were so wet I could not feel anything. As I lifted my head, I saw my dad entering the room my gran was in.  My dad is one of four children, and he is the only son so whatever decisions had to be made they were made by him. He has always been seen as the ‘leader’ of my family since my grandfather passed away. When my dad stepped out of the room, I could tell the news was bad as I have never seen him with a sorrowful look. He said my gran was extremely sick and the only thing we could do now was pray. Till this day I can picture my whole family sitting in the waiting room praying for my gran to get better. This was not something new to us especially because I come from a very religious household. I try to shut out all the noises around me by closing my eyes, but it feels as though it is not working because all I can hear is beeping from the hospital machines and the chatter of the doctors and nurses around me. All I wanted was to go to my bed and wake up from this nightmare.

I argue that stereotypes stem from colonial anthropology. stereotypes were used because societies who were studied by anthropologists were seen as primitive so it was assumed that all members of the society were the same as there was no complexity. The definition stereotype is stereotypes refers to a widely held and oversimplified idea or belief about a particular group of people. The definition of colonial anthropology emerged during the colonial era, characterized by the European exploration, colonization, and encounters with diverse societies across the globe.

The assumption that societies studied by anthropologists were "primitive" or less developed often led to oversimplified and homogenized representations of these societies. This oversimplification contributed to the creation of stereotypes, as anthropologists tended to generalize the characteristics of entire populations based on limited observations and biased perspectives. I have had many uncomfortable situations where people were stereotypical towards me as an Indian person, many people have said to me, “ Oh you must love spicy food. “ or “ Do you eat curry every day?” These kind of comments make me very uncomfortable in the same colonial anthologists portrayed their non-European studied subjects seem inferior.

In this essay I have discussed what stereotypes and colonial anthropology. I have backed up my essay with my own experiences to give real life examples.

references list:

Said,E.W. 1978. Orientalism 9-57

Miner,H. 1956. Body of Ritual among the Nacriema 503-507