Every time I go out of my comfy house, I meet and greet new people. We exchange names, our hobbies, and sometimes even our phone numbers. When you go to school, you see the same people every day. For some time you might be excited to see them the next day, but eventually, when the energy fizzes down a bit, you might feel that there is really no reason to talk to them. In fact, in some cases, after some time there is nothing to talk about. Which is why everyone always says, “Get a life outside of school.”
So when I first began building my friend circle outside of school, I realized how different people are. I got a little peek into the lives of "non-Riversidians." Being from a privileged family and going to a great school, I had spoken to other people on several occasions, but never really made it my story. Now, I met up a few times with these new friends and saw how narrow minded I and my classmates are. We are so used to being a part of a mob mentality that we only try to connect with our 25 classmates.
I also realized that we get so used to our school friends, that sometimes it's hard to really make new friends whom we can connect to, or friends who don’t watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
Meeting new people helps us understand how diverse we all are, and yet how closely knit we stand, as a community and as a nation. I live in Ahmedabad, a city big enough for a lot of people, yet small in comparison to metropolitan cities. I am fortunate to be a part of India’s first heritage city, yet every time I visit a new place, I am astounded by the beautiful sights and how nice people can be.
Let's take a simple analogy. In India, no one would hesitate to throw a wrapper on the road, as there are no rules, or rather no one follows the rules regarding littering. Also, the fact that everyone does it makes it seem like less of a crime. However, in Singapore, where littering laws are enforced, no one really throws garbage on the ground, as they understand littering to be wrong.
Being in a different place and meeting different people changes our perceptions and ideologies.
Kavya Shah is a happy-go-lucky 14-year-old girl who is an avid reader and a budding writer. She studies in the ninth grade at The Riverside School in Ahmedabad, India. Her favorite sports include tennis and football. Being a foodie, writer, reader, and a great friend is what truly defines her. Kavya is a curious learner who is always up for challenges.
