Since last year the Asian affinity club has promoted awareness and unity through cultural celebrations held at the high school, including the Diwali celebration in November, the Mid-Autumn festival in September and the upcoming Lunar New Year festival in February.
These events offer food, presentations and cultural celebrations held in the high school community room or gym.
Notably, the advocacy of Asian families and students contributed to the school district’s decision to give students the day off for the first time this year for Lunar New Year on Feb. 9, 2024, Eid al-Fitr (April 10, 2024) and Diwali, which fell on a weekend this year year (Nov. 12, 2023) but will be a day off in future years.
“The club leaders put a lot of effort into hosting these events and know how to bring people in,” said sophomore Lyndia Zheng, who is a member of the club. “They’ve also done a lot in putting posters throughout the school so we can get the word out and allowing anyone who wants to join be able to, even if they aren’t actively participating in the club.”
The club’s primary mission revolves around education and the amplification of Asian voices, and in a diverse school like Beachwood, understanding the richness of various Asian cultures is crucial.
Zheng stated that upon joining the Asian affinity club she felt a heightened sense of inclusion within the student body. She also stated that exploring diverse Asian cultures broadened her knowledge of different customs and instilled a newfound pride in her own.
“One of our biggest goals is to educate the student body about different Asian cultures,” she said. “It’s really important that we amplify those voices and understand how lucky we are to go to a school with this much diversity.”
The club’s objectives also include raising awareness of issues impacting the Asian community. By emphasizing positivity, the club strives to foster a strong sense of community and connection.
“[Club leaders] do a really good job of being inclusive, and that’s really important in the age that we live in today where there’s a lot of hate everywhere,” said Zheng. “The club does a good job of focusing on the positive points and what we should be proud of as Asian Americans.”
Zheng and others feel that the presence of a group actively engaged in organizing cultural events, directing educational sessions and enlightening students speaks volumes about our school community’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and cultural awareness.
Each meeting, the Asian affinity club features presentations on diverse subjects, including Asian athletes and a plethora of Asian festivals, cultures and celebrations.
“The biggest thing when you want other people to understand who you are and what you do is to educate other people because sometimes they don’t know if what they are doing is hurtful, and sometimes they just don’t know if something exists,” Zheng said.
The commitment of club members is evident not only in the successful execution of events but also in their continuous dedication.
Furthermore, the Asian affinity club promotes diversity and fosters an environment where every student feels valued and appreciated.
Zheng encourages interested students to attend a meeting.
“If you are interested in the Asian affinity club, come join us,” she said. “You learn a lot about different cultures, we have good food, we have a Google Classroom with lots of resources and we do fun activities like origami and making paper lanterns.”
