I‘m sprinting down the court anticipating the ball to come in my direction, when my teammate effortlessly passes me the ball. The clock counts down — 3…2…1 — and suddenly, I hit the buzzer beater, the crowd erupting with excitement.

This was a typical Saturday for me, just a kid enjoying the game of basketball. These games served as an escape from reality, allowing me to avoid the pressures of life. The court was my refuge, where I broke free from my stress.

But I’ve crashed down from the courts I once thrived on by facing the harsh reality of my culture. The priorities my culture has on academics over the extensive commitment towards basketball made me focus on culturally-accepted tennis.

It’s not just sports, though; this cultural conformity has seeped into every aspect of our lives. The pressure enforced among the younger generations has led to a decrease in personal expression and loss of freedom.

For parents, it may seem like their expectations are coming from their hearts, but in reality, it’s their personal values enforced upon them when they were children.

Especially in immigrant populations, children are commonly expected to follow a journey already deciding their future and profession.

Due to this, they are forced to abandon what brings them joy, swapping out their passion for what is culturally acceptable. And by taking away their freedom to pursue what they enjoy, we are not only causing significant mental health damage but are also diminishing entire cultures.

As they transition to a new environment, the adaptations made by immigrant parents not only affect the cultural values of children but are also detrimental to the negative stigma towards mental health.

But with mental health not being of primary concern in many countries around the world, the prevalent issues surrounding mental health are only becoming worse.

As a matter of fact, according to a 2020 ThinkGlobalHealth article, children of Asian and Latino immigrants have significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Not only does this cultural conformity affect our health, but it also leads to the harmful lessening of minority cultures.

In the media, my own culture is not represented enough. There are no major Indian pop stars, few Indian actors, and in general, significantly fewer children of immigrants who can write to express their cultures, and significantly fewer to compose traditional music.

These ideas ultimately showcase the stereotypes of many immigrants, diminishing their confidence from the opportunities that they have.

This narrative, however, should not bring stories of despair, but rather stories of resilience. While the pressure of cultural conformity may weigh us down, we can still resist.

First, one needs to make decisions for themselves. Do what excites you, not what others think. This leads to a reclamation of personal identity, and a better space for one to grow as a person.

By balancing our challenged beliefs with cultural traditions and personal fulfillment, we can both embrace our cultures and improve our mental mindset.

Second, it’s a collective struggle, so we can work together to defy stereotypes and create communities in which everyone is accepted.

Shared experience, mutual understanding, and a sense of belonging can contribute towards the strength of these communities. They can be safe spaces where individuals can express themselves, without the fear of being judged.

It’s clear — breaking free from cultural conformity proclaims us to pursue dreams, maintain personal well-being, and celebrate our heritage. It’s something that should be fought for in this world in which individuality can easily be lost.

For me, I’ve been able to continue playing basketball in my free time to follow my passion, and if others do the same, they can also find the strength to pursue their interests too.