There is a new, revitalized club at Central; The Asian American Student Association, sponsored by student counselor, Mr. Perez.

The Asian American Student Association is a club that “was approved two or three years ago” but “declined in membership” due to lack of student sign-ups and a consistent sponsor, according to Mr. Perez. However, this year Mr. Perez picked up the club and started it again, making a new space for Asian students to connect and interact with each other in a safe environment.

This is extremely important because students may not always feel like they have a place to belong or be themselves in the school setting, so the formation of more clubs leads to more opportunities for students to socialize and feel like they fit in with others. Plus, with clubs like AASA that are based on the inclusion of minority communities, it provides an opportunity for education and learning about other people and their cultures – cultures that may not always be seen or acknowledged as much as others.

“I want other students to learn about other parts of the world that they might not know about,” said Mr. Perez. AASA isa social and educational club, with activities that can educate, as well as create something new. Attendees often chat and talk about simple things, like a big group of friends. They also often share popular music hailing from all over the continent of Asia, playing specific songs for the season and celebrations that are going on.

For the holiday season, the students in AASA were busying themselves making a traditional Filipino star decoration called a parol. The craft only requires wood, glue and rubber bands and is as simple as it is pretty. Taking the time to craft these decorations shows the devotion that Mr. Perez and the students in AASA have towards sharing their different cultures.

Even students who are not a part of the Asian demographic are welcome. “Anyone is welcome. We welcome any members, they don’t have to be Asian,” said Mr. Perez. Clearly, the club is very important for socialization and support of others, as well as learning about new things. AASA is able to show students the culture of another continent in a way that is engaging and fun, and many club members hope that the club can grow so they can continue to share Asia’s unique culture with students who may not understand it that well.

The club prides itself on its ability and willingness to teach others, which it does a very good job at. Attendees can enjoy listening to popular music and experiencing traditions that are present all over the continent of Asia and not just chained to a specific part of it. This is a very important part of the club, as it can ensure that it includes everybody and that lots of different people can be seen and can participate in customs from different countries.

“I’ve never really been exposed to Asian culture,” said AASA attendee Sebastian Reyes. “So I think it’s really nice to be exposed to a brand new culture and its customs.”