I am writing this from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, waiting for my connecting flight back to Canada.

My trip to India, which was good for both my heart and soul, has left me reflecting deeply on my own identity. Travel has a way of pulling thoughts to the surface, and this time was no different. Being in India reminded me of where I come from, not just in a literal sense, but in a way that felt deeply grounding. It brought a certain clarity – a stronger sense of self that I am carrying back with me.

Identity is not something we perform; it is something we live.

It is neither a burden nor a banner, but a foundation – something that should anchor us without weighing us down. Too often, people either shrink their identity to fit in or amplify it to stand apart. But neither approach feels right to me. The strongest identity is one carried with quiet confidence – proud of its roots, yet open to growth.

This balance is especially critical in a society like Canada, where cultures, histories, and traditions intersect. The ability to hold onto where we come from while embracing where we are is not just a skill; it’s a responsibility. And it’s one that feels even more pressing when I think about young people – especially those who are struggling to find their place.

During my time in India, I was reminded of how easy it is for identity to become unsteady when one doesn’t have a clear sense of belonging. I thought about the many street-involved youth in Canada, searching for grounding, often grasping at whatever offers them a sense of certainty. Many of them find themselves drawn to divisive ideologies – not because they seek conflict, but because they crave connection. When identity is fragile, it is easily manipulated. It becomes a tool to separate rather than to strengthen.

History has shown us this pattern repeatedly. When people feel unseen, unheard, and unrooted, they become easy targets for narratives that thrive on exclusion. It’s why young people, in particular, are so susceptible to groups that frame the world as us versus them. It’s not about ideology – it’s about identity. And when identity is unstable, it is easily co-opted.

This is why it’s so important – both as individuals and as a community – to create spaces where identity is not just acknowledged but nurtured in a way that empowers rather than divides. I felt this deeply in India, surrounded by history, language, and traditions that have shaped me in ways I don’t always articulate but deeply feel. And yet, none of that makes me any less Canadian. If anything, it reinforces the idea that identity is not about choosing between one or the other. It is about holding both with equal clarity.

A strong identity does not need validation. It does not need to be shouted or defended or wielded as a shield. It stands on its own, secure enough to engage with others without feeling diminished. This is the lesson I am carrying back with me: to be deeply rooted without being rigid, to embrace identity without making it a boundary. To recognize that the richness of where I come from is not just something to take pride in, but something to share – openly, humbly, and with the confidence that true belonging does not require exclusion.

As I board my flight home, I do so with a stronger sense of self.

Not because I have found a new understanding of my identity, but because I have been reminded of what was always there. And that, in itself, is enough.