You can mold a man from the ground where he stands on.
Rajiv Doraiswamy
Ironically for me, I stand on two countries, two worlds, and two cultures. It is quite hard to identify one’s own if both worlds collide in a debate or an argument.
I must say being molded on two different types of soil taught me more than what education is given in terms of who I am as a person. Being an Indian makes me express my thoughts more clearly and precisely while being a Filipino makes me believe that family comes first at all times.
What does being Indian mean to you?
That is a good question! To me, being Indian gave me the ability to:
- Express myself.
- Find myself.
- Being open to the world around me.
- Being courageous.
- Never giving up.
- Finding the good in everyone.
- Always be welcoming to others.
What does being Filipino or Igorot mean to you?
Most of my attributes in this writing defines those that I have been with mostly inspired my own blood and bone which is my family. Being Igorot is something I know I have taken for granted but as I get older I learn to respect, love, and understand it more than ever. This is what my family taught me:
- Family is important.
- Kindness is a gift.
- Being realistic is more important than drifting away from reality.
- Education does not end in school, cause learning is life.
- Grateful moments are shared better with a smile.
- Your legacy is with those that surrounds you.
What inspired you to write this?
Knowing someday I will be gone, I want to leave this as a testament of me being a person who believes in both the worlds that I grew up with. I do not choose one over the other because of their distinctive characteristics.
I choose to dedicate, this blog post to my family and friends from both ends of the world because they deserve more love than I can give. So much so that words I put here comes straight from my heart and mine alone.
Yet, I do believe both worlds are more powerful when I take a deep dive into the future by carrying this as MY IDENTITY.
The Rajiv Show 
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