The Asian American Student Association at Bishop O’Connell High School hosted an assembly last month to celebrate and share their Asian heritage with the student body.
Kicking off the assembly, junior Teresa Feng recited the Our Father in Chinese. Then after the lights dimmed, flags of various Asian countries were carried around the auditorium, showcasing all the members’ heritages. At the same time, Feng led a large colorful dragon, puppeteered by several students, including junior Matthew Dunn controlling the head. The beast wandered among the seats before finally perching onstage for a moment, the flags waving underneath it.
Students walked the runway in a fashion show, strutting in traditional outfits from various Asian countries to create a wonderful learning experience. Two emcees talked the audience through all the aspects of each outfit, giving a deep dive on each country’s unique culture.
The assembly also included several games that pitted grades against one another. In an American Ninja Warrior challenge, the senior team won handily in the final round against the sophomores.
O’Connell teachers also took part in some of the games, representing the grades that they teach. During the board-breaking contest, both the freshman and sophomore teachers, Sophia Aboelenin and Nathan Schell respectively, easily sliced through all three boards, but a cheer-off advanced Schell to the finals. When it came to Nathan Giguere, who was representing the juniors, versus Head of School Bill Crittenberger, representing the seniors, three boards were like butter for these contestants. In a surprising twist, Crittenberger won the final cheer-off and the whole event.
There were many inspirational videos from parents and other local Asian Americans who were willing to be interviewed. They shared their stories of coming to America, their successes and ultimately finding a sense of belonging in both the Asian and American communities.
The Middle Eastern and North African Heritage Club also had a role in the assembly. To test everyone’s knowledge of MENA countries, club members put contestants through geography trivia. When it came to the final round between the juniors and the freshmen, it was the freshmen (with quite a struggle) who came out victorious.
Students also competed in a chopsticks competition, where the freshmen took the first round against the sophomores, picking up more cotton balls with their chopsticks. The juniors blazed through the second round and beat the seniors, landing the two grades in a face-off once again. This time the juniors put the freshmen in their place.
To honor Vietnamese culture, members of the AASA club performed two Vietnamese-influenced dances. They started with a hat dance: seven performers flaunting the traditional nón lás to the bright beats of a Vietnamese pop song. Afterward, the stage quickly transitioned from bamboo hats to colorful fans, in which the girls waved their vibrant quạts to “Con Gái Miền Tây” by artist Lương Khánh Vy, the sound of Vietnamese country music, or nhạc quê hương, enveloping the audience.
The assembly wrapped up with two fast-paced K-pop dance performances. Though the footwork was challenging, the dancers were able to put on an incredible performance.
“I really like how the assembly showcases all the different cultures and heritages,” said senior Sophia Truong, secretary of the AASA. “It provides context about Asian Americans in history, especially since we often confuse Asian with Asian American, but there’s actually a lot of cultural differences between them.”
Truong encourages students to join the club. “This is a really good opportunity to connect with your heritage,” she said. “Before I joined, I didn’t practice many Vietnamese traditions, but during my time in this club, I’ve become really proud of my heritage.”
Fellow AASA club member, sophomore Asher Sim, added, “We’re open to everyone, regardless of who they are and how much time they have. It’s a lot of fun, and I highly recommend that everyone joins.”
