“What’s that ball on your head?” “Is that a rock on your head?” These are just some of the questions I have been asked during my nearly 11 years at Harker.

Initially, these questions made me feel uncomfortable, as though I was getting teased. But I came to understand that these queries were genuine. Although I was mostly asked about my identity in elementary school, my peers still remain curious and slightly confused as to why I look the way I do.

Being a Sikh, I came to realize from a young age that people of other faiths do not understand Sikhism.

It’s not rare for others to mistake us for violent extremists due to the apparent similarities between Sikhs wearing turbans and the notorious terrorist, Osama bin Laden. Sikhs have been escorted out of political events, shows and airplanes for this faulty association made by outsiders to our religion and lifestyle.

I’ve had my share of such experiences. For instance, back in middle school, I was sitting and talking to my friends at lunch when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. A couple of students seated nearby were looking at me and laughing amongst themselves. As I watched them, I was able to make out a word said by one to the other: “terrorist.”

It was not their fault. They were simply ignorant and did not know that Sikhism existed as a religion apart from others.

From then on, I have tried to educate as many as I can about the Sikh faith and my culture, making it clear that Sikhism is different from Islam, Hinduism and other things with which it is often confused. Sikhism’s tenets are unique; worshippers believe in one god, universal equality, and maintaining an honest lifestyle.

I strive to educate the Harker community on the identity of and values held by Sikhs in order to foster stronger bonds with all the people around me. Outside of school, I work alongside the National Sikh Campaign that works solely to educate people about who Sikhs are through a large scale media campaign which ranges from social media to high level PR in the form of advertisements.

The image of Sikhs has improved significantly from the post-9/11 period, but from my experiences and the accounts of Sikhs from around the nation, it’s clear that many still don’t understand Sikhism and how it differs from other faiths. However, I believe that this problem can be solved with continual efforts from within the Sikh community to educate others.

This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on May 4, 2016.

Nirban Singh is a sophomore at the Harker Upper School. During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and watching the Baltimore Ravens.