It is not uncommon for people to have biases or prejudices that prevent them from trying new things or interacting with new people. These biases and prejudices may be based on a person’s upbringing, cultural background, personal experiences, or societal norms, but it is crucial to recognize and acknowledge these biases to be able to broaden our perspectives and become more accepting of others. Views and perspectives can change in different ways. While some may experience a sudden change in their thinking due to a significant event, my own views changed gradually starting at a very young age when I was 5.

For me, this change of perspective occurred when I moved to New Delhi, India, despondently preparing to go to kindergarten. I still remember waiting anxiously for my small backpack thinking, maybe: “I didn't know much about this country”; however, hearing the concerns my parents expressed about moving to a new country made me apprehensive about this new home and caused me to dread this change. My parents who were always concerned about my safety reinforced that I was never to go anywhere by myself. This made me fearful and scared of my new surroundings.  I believe this was partly due to our family’s move from Japan to India, which was a major transition for us and made us feel uneasy about the unfamiliar surroundings. I now know that part of the reason was for my safety, and they did not want me to get lost and be unable to find me. I had even heard about children disappearing and being sold, a story that remained in my young head for a long time.

Despite that, as time passed and we settled into our beautiful new Indian home full of promise my perspectives began to shift. The first significant change came with our house guard, who initially intimidated us because we couldn't speak English and didn't know how to interact with him. We were hesitant to approach him and mostly kept to ourselves. But one day, while playing outside with my brother, we decided to let him join in our game of soccer. Despite the language barrier, we managed to communicate using hand gestures and had a great time. This led to him even introducing us to cricket, a popular sport in India. This not only was enjoyable, but it also helped us learn more about Indian culture. As we spent more time with him, we realized how kind and trustworthy people could be. In addition to this, everywhere I went, people were always helpful and friendly towards us. These experiences helped me to see India in a more positive light and to overcome the prejudices that I had initially had. When I was younger, I was unaware of this and unintentionally limited my interactions with others.

Experiences like this often teach us an important lesson. When we don't know about something, we are quick to judge, which prevents us from understanding new people. Nonetheless, I have learned from these experiences and have made a conscious effort to avoid prejudices and maintain an open mind. The experiences I had at a very young age have played a significant role in shaping the person I am today. Through them, I have learned the value of keeping an open mind when meeting new people. I now realize that judging others based on their appearance, nationality, race, or even gender can prevent me from truly getting to know them and appreciating their unique qualities. I believe that everyone can benefit from adopting this attitude towards new encounters, as it can definitely lead to a more fulfilling and enjoyable life.

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