“Inclusion is not just a policy — it is a practice, a choice, and a responsibility”

City Year mentor Jennifer, currently serving at Parrs Wood High School in Greater Manchester, shares her journey as an international student and her personal reflections on inclusion and belonging.

It is a privilege to share a part of my journey with all of you — one that began in India and continues here in the United Kingdom. My story is one of learning, unlearning, growing, sometimes struggling, and ultimately discovering the power of inclusivity and belonging.

When we move to another country, we don’t only cross geographical borders. We cross cultural, social, emotional and sometimes invisible borders that others may not see. We carry our identities, our traditions, our languages, our fears, and our dreams. And we hope—quietly, or sometimes loudly—that the world we enter will make space for us, and allow us to become who we are meant to be.

When I first travelled from India to the UK, I knew I was stepping into a new chapter of my life — but I didn’t realise how deeply it would reshape the way I learn, communicate, and connect with the world around me. My journey has taken me from university halls to professional workplaces and back into learning environments again, all while finding ways to build friendships and celebrate who I am.

This experience has taught me that when we cross borders, we don’t just carry our suitcases; we carry our cultures, identities, memories and hopes. And when the world welcomes us with openness, we grow — not only as individuals, but as a community.

Coming to the UK meant discovering new approaches to education, work, social interaction and even celebrations. I navigated moving. I identify proudly as an Indian, South Asian woman, and the UK became a place where I could share that identity while learning from others too.

I came to the UK as an international student — a woman ready to learn, grow and build a future. I moved from university into work, from work back into the education sector, and along the way, I learned what it means to socialise across cultures and celebrate festivals far from home.

There were moments of excitement and curiosity, but there were also moments of uncertainty. I often found myself asking: Where do I belong? Will people understand me? Will I be able to express myself?

One of the first major changes I experienced was in academia. Back in India, I was familiar with a learning style that focused more on lectures. But in the UK, I quickly learned that I was expected to challenge ideas, debate, and express my opinions openly.

At first, this was difficult. I often worried about my fluency and accent during discussions. I remember moments where participation made me anxious — I compared myself to classmates who seemed fluent, confident, and completely at ease. Participation, for me, often came with anxiety. But with time, I started to see these challenges as opportunities and I learned that discomfort does not mean incompetence. It means growth. And little by little, my voice grew stronger and helped me to  develop good communication skills.

There were also socio-cultural transitions. Understanding western politics, humour, and everyday references felt overwhelming. I sometimes felt left out and unsure how to build early relationships. But slowly, through the kindness of others and the practice of being more inclusive, I found my place and built meaningful connections, and progress happened. Inclusivity—real, intentional inclusivity—made that possible. People who asked about my culture, who listened without judgement, who welcomed my traditions, made the difference. It was not about grand gestures. It was about kindness and curiosity.

Through these experiences, I learned that inclusion is not just a policy — it is a practice, a choice, and a responsibility.

When people feel like they belong, something powerful happens. They share more ideas, they participate more openly, they support one another, and they dare to grow.

As an Indian student and later a working professional in the UK, I came to understand that inclusion is not only about opening doors for others — it is also about encouraging them to walk through with confidence. It is about creating spaces where people are not expected to shrink, but instead, invited to expand.

I want to share a belief that came out of this journey:

It is easy to stay close to what is familiar. It is easy to build circles that look like us, sound like us, and think like us. But real inclusion begins when we step outside those circles and make room for someone new.

Inclusion is not only something we receive. It is something we give.

Here are a few things that helped me and that can help others:

• Be open-minded and respectful of all cultures.
• Share your own traditions, but also participate in others’.
• Step outside cultural bubbles – join diverse groups and conversations.
• Challenge stereotypes, gently but firmly.
• Support newcomers and minority voices.
• Check your internal biases. We all have them, but awareness changes everything.

When we choose inclusion, we do not just create better spaces for others — we create better spaces for ourselves.

Looking back, I no longer see my journey only as adapting to a new country, but as expanding my understanding of people and the world. Diversity has never been just a concept to me — it has been my lived experience.

I am proud to be Indian, and I am grateful for every person, conversation, and opportunity that made the UK feel like a place where I could grow.

“Unity is not about being the same. It is about celebrating each other’s differences and building a future where everyone feels they belong”.