After a busy May, WHS Asian Alliance will host the second annual Asian Alliance Festival open to all town members from 3:30-4:30 at Comstock Community Center on June 13th.
Last year, the Asian Alliance club successfully put together a cultural festival that highlighted some of the Asian cultures we have here in Wilton. Students managed calligraphy, food, anime, origami, dance, and music stations, sharing bits of Asian tradition with those who stopped by.
Organizing the Festival this year as seniors was tricky, especially given schoolwide budget cuts. As leaders for many clubs in Wilton High School (including Wilton Debate, Model Congress, Student Government, and more), organizing events and encouraging student involvement while maintaining personal school work and college applications proved challenging. Due to the lack of funds, most events are either no longer feasible or must be paid for by the students. Additionally, clubs meet for half the time compared to last year, resulting in wilting student involvement. This puts pressure on student leadership as we try to run the clubs.
Though most of the clubs trudged through this year, cultural clubs such as Asian Alliance particularly struggled. We could only meet about once a month, making it hard for even the most dedicated members to attend regularly.
However, despite our lack of meetings, we were determined to make this Festival happen, even though it is no longer Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Spreading and celebrating Asian culture, what we love most about our heritage, was the inception of the club. We hope to continue to do this, despite obstacles. As they say, better late than never.
It’s always wonderful to see when people get together to share an aspect of themselves that they do not often get to show. We love sharing cultures because it is a positive way to get in touch with the rest of the world and expand one’s perspectives.
During the Festival last year, visitors learned how to write their names in Japanese calligraphy, tried samosas and dumplings, learned traditional Bollywood dance, and watched clips from various Asian movie industries. These opportunities introduced them to unique customs from places across the world. It showed them something beautiful by teaching them something new—a beauty in a new horizon.
In the state of the world we live in right now, getting in touch with different cultures brings us together. This is our goal with the Asian Alliance Festival. Please join us in the light-hearted, fun, special event next week!
