By Jasmine Kaur age 10
Life as a Sikh in America means a very special thing to me because I am different from everybody in my class. But in school everybody asks me that why don’t you cut your hair? I say, that my religion said not to cut my hair, and to always put a steel or an iron bracelet called ‘kara’. Sometimes when I come home from school some kids call me Hindu but I say I am a Sikh and I’m proud to be one.” Every Sikh child has a trouble when he or she comes to America and goes to school, unless they are from here. The troubles are that the kids tease me or tell me to cut my hair.
A Sikh is never to do bad things. And never to steal anything from anybody. A Sikh has to believe in his religion and do Path, and come to gurdwara every Friday and Sunday to participate in kirtan, and must sit with the Sangat until the kirtan is over. But sometimes some kids say bad things about my religion, I listen very carefully and tell everything to my parents and they take care of everything.
Try to communicate with my friends. lam not willing to quit because I believe in Sikhism. When another Sikh has a problem others Sikhs try to help them. Each and every Sikh should share.
This essay was awarded the first prize at the talent contest in Sri Guru Singh Sabha NJ in the 10 years and under category.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 28, 1989
