Hey! I'm Summer, the founder and business owner of Kulfi Culture Crew that brings together creative entrepreneurs from all over the world to teach them how to make money with their art. I'm a 24 year old journalist & photographer who loves culture and travel. I'll also chase down sunsets and scrape my butt for the perfect picture. I enjoy working out, consuming fashion, art, beautiful colors, and engaging conversations with wonderful people. Here's my story:
Not All Bindis & Saris: The Non-traditional life of an Indian Immigrant Turned Business Woman
This is not going to be a happy story of culture – Instead a lesson of the unheard Indian story through me.
It is interesting because being Indian and in America, everyone assumes that you live a good life. That’s not my story. I didn’t grow up in an expensive house with a pooja room, have saris draped in the living room, or have separate dishes for different daal and meat. My mom, dad, and I immigrated to America with little to nothing in our pocket, and I loved the little house I grew up in. We all slept on 1 mattress, and I didn’t know any different. Fast forward – through a messy divorce with my parents, my dad keeping all the money, my mom and I moving between places with barely enough to eat -- I knew I didn’t want to struggle or have her struggle anymore. This hyper-sped version of events is merely there to illustrate that we, Indians aren’t all the same like the media makes it seem.
Being a poor Indian in America. What a contradictory statement. It seems like we are all rich and can afford the clothes, meals more than once a day, sweets in the cabinet with chai but that’s not the case. This is not a sob story. I have opposing beliefs about certain aspects of the “tradition,” but I love being Indian. I love the art, beauty, hustle, and color that is Indian. As a photographer and writer today, my influence stems from Indian art, architecture, and overall love for family and nature. I also love being an Indian in America.
Struggling as a first generation Indian in America opened up a world where life seems to dance with you as long as you keep trying – no matter how often you fail. That’s exactly what I did. I knew that I had to keep pushing for my mom and a better life – that’s why I went to college to study Journalism. After perfecting my craft, I now teach other creatives how to make money doing what they love. I have created a platform – Kulfi Culture Crew -- for artists all over the world to share their work and learn how to create a business with their passion. Even if it’s just enough to pay a few bills or completely take care of their family. It’s something I wish existed when I was first starting my creative journey.
Being a first generation Indian, I saw and faced struggles that I loved to maneuver through – That tired feeling is what many artists feel when they push against the status quo to own their own. I enjoy the process of building – something generations of immigrants have done before me, and will continue to do.
Now that you have the sped-up version of my blurry life – If you are curious about what I’m doing today feel free to follow me and say hey! IG: @_summersharma Podcast about Creatives in Business: @kulfi.culture