By Lily Frank, Stentorian Staff Writer
“We don’t just want to highlight the cultures themselves – we want to highlight the experiences that NCSSM students have with their culture,” stated Leah Nikhil ‘25, one of the five officers of NCSSM’s’s Asian Student Association (ASA) alongside Nicholas Win, Olivia Chen, Aadiya Dasgupta, and Andrea Dela Pena. Together they form “NOALA”, as Dela Pena shared, symbolizing their commitment to “work collaboratively on different tasks and events, one being Asiafest.”
Every year, NCSSM students hold different events and activities outside of the classroom and within the community. From Koffeehaus in the pit beside Woolworth to block parties on Hill Street, students love to get involved. Of these, some of the most anticipated events are the cultural festivals, or fests. These fests are headed by ASA, the Black Student Union (BSU), and the Latin Student Union (LSU) to make Asiafest, Africafest, and Latin America Fest.
These fests, however, take a long time and are filled with careful planning and dedication.
“There’s a ton that goes into planning, so expect to see all five of us (NOALA) most likely huddled around a conference table in the library throughout the year,” Chen emphasizes.
Preparations start weeks or even months in advance: from the beginning planning stages to the dance practices late in the evening, these fests take hard work from everyone involved. As Nikhil puts it, “Leading up to Asia Fest, you face many hours of stressful practices, struggles, setbacks, and difficulties. But throughout these experiences, you make lifelong friends and learn so much about who you are, all while picking up some new skills and awesome moves you never could have imagined yourself doing before.”
All three fests focus on the cultural backgrounds of NCSSM students, or, as Nikhil states, “We want to acknowledge the way students feel about their culture and help them take strength and pride in their culture, as well as emphasizing the community and support they have here at NCSSM.” The festivals allow NCSSM students to connect with their heritage and how they live with their cultural background in their day-to-day lives in the classroom or within the community.
“We want Asiafest and ASA as a whole to both encourage students to learn about their classmates’ cultures and how special they are, but also encourage them to reflect on their relationships with their culture,” added Nikhil.
Asiafest, Africafest, and Latin America Fest allow students of various cultures to connect with and express their experiences. Still, it can only happen with the shared collaboration of seniors who step up to lead and juniors who want to join in.
To any juniors unsure of their place within the fest, Dasgupta says, “1000% join! While it may seem overwhelming at first, there are so many ways to be involved with the fest… whether that’s performing, leading an act, being a part of tech crew, ushering, and more. We can’t wait to introduce our juniors to Asiafest and see them do amazing things in it!”
With the school year starting, preparations for all 3 fests will also begin. As Win adds, “A great way to learn more and get involved in Asiafest is to attend ASA welcome and interest meetings.” ASA, BSU, and LSU are open to any interested students, so keep an eye out on social media or around the school for more information.
There is no better time to join than now because, as Nikhil states, “When you shine brightly on that stage for the first time side-by-side with your friends, proud of who you are and all the dedication and talent you displayed to get there, it is an exhilarating experience that you’ll never forget nor may get a chance to experience ever again.”
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