NEPALESE AMERICAN YOUTHS IN AMERICA
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
During the last couple of months, I have been astounded by the number of Nepalese American youths I have met in New York City and other parts of United States I happened to travel to. The amount of energy and talents in these young folks was beyond my imagination. I actually had few opportunities to work with few of them in some creative projects. This generation had no concern about the mainstream Nepalese community like that in Jackson Heights, Queens or Nepalese society in general. They realized their roots back from Nepal but their eyes were on the bigger prize, to be something and to do something in the mainstream America and the international world stage.
I found that most of these folks were raised by single parent if not broken homes. Very few had father and mother together raising the family in a happy home like we would like to imagine. In the last few months, I have been able to feel this void of mentorship and guidance among few folks which gave me an insight into their life, their thoughts, their dreams and their problems. This whole new class of Nepalese-Americans if guided in the right direction could transform not only Nepal and America but the entire world with their innovations, talents, new products, new ideas and new culture. I have been excited about this possibility and have been working day and night with few youths of this generation since last few months.
For this purpose I have been a bit aloof from the mainstream Nepalese in America for a while now lots of who do not even realize the existence of this new brand of Nepalese youths. Even if they know this group of people, I am not sure if they are willing to put time and effort to guide them. Most importantly, the problem is about relating with these youths because these kids do not even seem to relate with their parents after being immersed in the American society since their young age. I myself would have been startled if you had told me a year ago about the existence of this group of youths in America. I have been in love with these youths, with their talents, with their energy, with their charisma and with their willingness to learn and grow. These folks are looking for mentorship, not a perfect mentorship but one that says, “Look, I am not perfect but this is what I have learnt and I am willing to share that with you if you are willing to listen.” Fortunately, these folks are open-minded and fun to work with.
I am actually producing a new movie called Make That Money with few of these youths most of which is being shot right here in Queens, NY. I have learnt about these folks by immersing myself into their lives and their reality which sometimes are very different from mine. At the same time, I have found a lot of things in common with them. I myself having come to this country as a student, struggling throughout years to get ahead, pay it forward, making my own opportunities with all the bricks and sticks thrown at me by friends, families and strangers has helped me understand these folks . Most of them are confused in the new paradigm and without a proper guidance have been following the crowd or the TV.
Whether you are their parent or you know them, you are not going to relate with them if you come from the paradigm of typical Nepali. Most of them do not think from your viewpoint and you cannot blame them for this. I myself have changed a lot since I left Nepal and think differently about many things including my own connection with Nepalese community. Lot of these folks have a great respect for their motherland or the country of their parent however, they have assimilated into a different culture where they grew up either it be Hispanic, white, black or mix of all these cultures. I have been working on bridging this group of Nepalese-Americans with the mainstream Nepalese community so that we could create a greater power base in America and be united for our future in United States.
We are looking at an America with artists, musicians, political leaders, professors, lawyers, doctors etc. of Nepalese origin. We are looking at a transformation in America in our own unique way just like the Indians have transformed it. We are looking at creating jobs and opportunities for Americans rather than just acting like helpless immigrants. Folks, we are looking at a revolution that is currently at its tipping point and all those who will be a part of it will have a tremendous advantage than those that chose to be mere spectators.
(Neil Ojha is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, author, blogger, & a self-help student.He is also a legal/marketing/business consultant. Founder of @nepricantimes, @onepointfilms, @acidpictures. He is also a part of several other successful business networks in America. Neil also writes for several local and international English newspapers and magazines. For more information, reach him at 646-255-4578 or follow @neilojha on twitter.)
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