Different is Good!

Student shares about their experiences being diverse

“My background and culture is different than most of the people around me, which I have never really let bother me. It’s interesting seeing how a lot of cultures vary in certain beliefs, and that’s definitely been something that has impacted me positively that I’ll be able to hold on to throughout my life,” says Junior Jasmine Mohit.

Mohit was raised speaking both English and Persian, which is the official language spoken in Iran. Mohit grew up in Rowley living the same lifestyle as any other kid, despite the fact she had certain traditions and beliefs that differed from others.

“I still celebrate Christmas, Easter and other holidays. Except some things are a bit different. For example Easter is referred to as “Ade.” My family and I go to the beach to throw plants in the water that we had started to grow a month prior and for dinner we have a whole bunch of sugary foods to celebrate the holiday,” says Mohit.

Mohit has never been to Iran but says she would love to visit someday and see where her parents grew up and experience where she came from. Although Mohit has always lived in the United States, there’s a lot of curiosity about the place that plays such a big role in her everyday life but she has yet to visit herself.

Growing up, at times Mohit felt her beliefs and values differed from her parents because they had a whole different perspective of the culture after living there. They experienced every aspect of the country itself such as the food, the lifestyle and the scenery whereas Mohit will just hear stories and see pictures. Mohit plans on teaching her children the language so they can share the same cultural beliefs when the time comes, as her parents did with her.

“It was interesting, growing up with kids who all had similar lifestyles and I was different. Little things like not being able to eat pork because in my family’s eyes pigs were viewed as ‘dirty.’ But when I move out and am in college living on my own I still plan to follow the culture the way I do now because it’s a part of me, it’s where I came from and that’s not something I want to let go.”