My Failed College Indian Cultural Connection

The mismatch between my name and ethnicity

Photo by Chanhee Lee on Unsplash

My roommate answered my dorm phone freshman year. As he passed the phone to me, he whispered, ‘It’s a girl for you A.J, but said she’s looking for Adam.’

I grabbed the phone, and in my gravelly baritone voice said ‘This is Adam.’

Priya* said she was calling from the Indian Student Association (ISA).

I listened intently, excited. She proceeded, ‘I’m calling because you wrote your contact details down on our information sheet at the Student fair a few days ago.’

‘Yep, I’m interested in hearing more about the ISA.’

Her tone changed. I could sense hesitation.

‘I wanted to let you know, that the ISA is composed primarily of Indians.

*Silence*

‘I am Indian’, I retorted.

‘Oh, I thought you weren’t because your name was Adam.’ Embarrassed, and before I could respond, she hung up the phone.

I never attempted making contact with the ISA again.

My name and my appearance don’t match

This small interaction sums up a struggle I’ve had my whole life. When people see my name written…