The Beauty of Culture
At Bay View High School, we celebrate many important and special days throughout the school year, but Culture Day is one celebration that has not yet been recognized. I believe our school should begin celebrating Culture Day every year, just like many other schools do. Our school is home to students from many different cultural backgrounds, making Bay View High School a diverse and welcoming community. Celebrating Culture Day would allow students to share their backgrounds and learn from one another.
Culture Day is important because it reminds us of who we are and where we come from. Culture is not only about traditional food, clothes, or festivals; It also includes our values, beliefs, language, art, and everyday way of life. It shapes our identity and connects us to our history. When we celebrate Culture Day, we recognize the beauty of different traditions, customs, and lifestyles. This celebration helps students develop respect and appreciation for cultures that may be different from their own.
In addition, Culture Day encourages unity and understanding within the school community. When students share their traditions, music, dances, stories, and foods, it creates an environment of learning and respect. Students become more open-minded and accepting, which helps reduce stereotypes and misunderstandings. Celebrating culture teaches us that diversity is a strength, not a weakness, and that everyone’s background deserves to be valued.
As students, we also have a responsibility to preserve and honor our own cultures. This can be done by speaking our mother tongue with pride, respecting our elders, and passing down traditions to future generations. At the same time, we should be open to learning about other cultures, because diversity makes the world more colorful, meaningful, and connected. Culture Day is not just a celebration; it is a reminder that our culture is part of our identity. By celebrating Culture Day, we can take pride in who we are, respect others, and create a stronger and more united school community.
To better understand how our school community feels about cultural celebration, Fifty-five Bay View High School students, staff, and teachers responded to a survey stating that celebrating different cultures helped provides direct exposure to diverse ways of life. Culture includes shared beliefs, traditions like food, music, holidays, language, and values that connect a group, shaping behaviors and identity.
Bay View Student Muna Muhammad responded to the question, “Why is it important to celebrate different cultures in a school setting? She said, “It is important to celebrate different cultures in a school setting because it builds empathy and respect, enhances learning, and fosters belonging.”
English as a Second Language Teacher Miss Hook also shared her thoughts when asked, “What does culture mean to you?” She said, “Culture is everything. It is who you are, who your people were, and who you will become. It includes your language, home country, religion, ethnicity, race, gender/sexual orientation, traditions, family, and a million other things. Culture is not good or bad. It just describes who you are and why you think the way that you do.”
In conclusion, establishing a Culture Day at Bay View High School is more than just adding a celebration to the calendar; it is a vital step toward fostering a truly inclusive community. By embracing the “beauty of culture,” we validate the unique identities of our students while building bridges of understanding between them. As the insights from our students and staff reveal, recognizing our diverse backgrounds builds empathy and strengthens the social fabric of our school. It is time for Bay View High to turn our diversity into our greatest asset, creating a legacy of respect and unity that will resonate for years to come.
