Making up less than three percent of the student population, Asian American students are considered a minority at CHS. For years these students have lacked a way to connect within the school — until now.
On Sept. 20, the Asian Affinity Association held its first-ever meeting in Room 320. Club members gathered together to get to know one another, share snacks and discuss their goals for the year.
Club president, Janaki Nallamonthu, wanted to create a safe space for Asian American students to talk about social and cultural topics, as well as their personal experiences.
“For me, it is much easier to connect with those who are also Indian and share the same traditions,” Nallamonthu said. “In a predominantly white school, it’s nice to have a group of people you are comfortable with– I saw that was missing here at CHS.”
In her freshman year, Nallamonthu was a member of the Indian Student Association at Huron High School. Every Sunday, Nallamonthu would participate in different projects where she bonded with the other members, many of whom she now considers to be her best friends.
In an effort to recreate this environment at CHS, students can now expect an exciting agenda from the Asian Affinity Association. Members can immerse themselves in cultural media and food, as well as connect with Ann Arbor’s Asian community through volunteer work.
Nallamothu’s biggest hope is to host a multicultural night. At Huron’s multicultural night last year, Nallamonthu performed a cultural dance with the Indian Student Association. During this event, she was not only able to learn from others but to share a piece of her culture.
“When you have a different culture it can be hard to connect with others,” Nallamonthu said. “It’d be fun to have anyone who wants to, come to [Asian Affinity Association] and share a part of them.”
Now, the club plans to meet every Wednesday during lunch in Room 320. As they kick start this year, Nallamonthu hopes to get more people involved and start yearly traditions. That way, the club can continue for years to come.
