This year, the week-long Club Rush event has welcomed numerous clubs. For the diverse range of clubs offered at LACES, each day of the week had a different theme- Monday being hobby clubs, Tuesday volunteer/community service clubs, Wednesday academic clubs, Thursday sports clubs, and last but not least, Friday, cultural/identity clubs. In preparation for the thrilling and hectic week that is Club Rush, club presidents and other cabinet members have been seen creating posters for their tables, and bringing snacks and candy!
A number of clubs this year were created for the sole purposes of spirit, representation, and unifying students. When asked about the importance of the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union, club founder and president, junior Minji Kim said, “I think it’s really important because we haven’t really had a big Asian/Pacific Islander Student Union (APSU) at LACES. I know they’ve had that in the past, but it hasn’t been as mainstream as BSU or YLS. So, it’s good to have a bigger community where people know that they can go there and feel supported and accepted with other Asian American/Pacific Islander students.”
Alongside LACES students, some teachers have also expressed their interest in bringing more representation and unity to the school. According to Kim, APSU’s teacher representative, Ms. Kim has also conveyed her eagerness to start an Asian and Pacific Islander Student Union, “She’s expressed her interest in making this club and has been wanting to start it for a really long time… She’s had such a big interest in it and she’s been the one who’s told me and a couple of my friends like, ‘You should start this because I think this would be important.’ It’s because of her passion that I chose her [to be our sponsor].”
Just as YLS, BSU, and Leadership put on school events and shows, APSU plans to do just the same. “A big goal this year that I’ve been trying to set up is basically a show, kind of like BSU and YLS. I’ve been talking to Mr. Jacob about having a date… We’ve just been brainstorming ideas, like dancing and poems and songs,” Kim discloses.
Alongside the Fall Festival Fundraiser and Spring Showcase, APSU is planning to partner with stores. “I know Boba Time partners with some schools, and maybe have some funds and fundraising with that.” She continues, “With the funds, I think we’ll basically spend a lot of it towards the show, and hopefully some apparel that we might make later on in the school year.”
On their club mission, Kim states, “I think any student who wants to learn more about different Asian cultures, even if they aren’t Asian, can learn about other cultures that they have not learned about, wanting to try new foods, new games, types of music. It’s just a way for them to experience and immerse themselves in situations and cultures that they usually don’t,” she explains. “You should join my club, it’s really fun! The first meeting will have food so you should come join and be excited for the show in May.”
