For the month of May, we are featuring Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI). In recognition of AAPI Month, students in the elementary schools read Punky Aloha by Shar Tui’asoa. This story is inspired by the author’s real life–her Hawaiian culture, her relationship with her grandma, and memories of her childhood. You can read the story too! Click here.
In many Asian cultures, elders are respected for their wisdom and knowledge. This month, the students in journalism class were asked: What is a memory that you share with an elder member of your family that taught you a life lesson? Here are some responses:
“A memory that I share with my Grandmother is baking. I was taught how to make jelly cookies, chocolate crinkle cookies, sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies and many more. Baking with my grandmother taught me independence, patience, precision and to appreciate the small things in life.” -Madelyn DeMasi
“Grandpa always likes to step in with facts or extra information whenever someone tells a story. He says knowing the details helps you understand the full picture, and it’s his way of making sure we’re always learning something new, even in casual moments.” -Talia Esposito
“I remember when I was with my Halmeoni (Grandma in Korean), and I had gotten upset with my parents. When I was much younger, we were at the pool. I was learning how to swim, but I was having a lot of trouble. She held my hand while saying, “Nothing good comes easy” and it taught me to always be patient. I learned some skills take more time than you think because they don’t always come naturally.” -Diya Patel
“A memory I have with my grandpa is when he would take me to the park, and we would walk there. Each time we crossed a street, he would always tell me to look both ways for each letter of STOP. I now do that everytime I cross a street. It taught me how to be more cautious when crossing a street.” -Scarlett Ruf
“One memory I have is surfing with my dad. When I was 8 years old, I kept falling and wanted to give up, but he told me to stay calm and keep trying. After a while, I finally stood up on the board. That day, I learned that practice and patience can help you succeed.” -Ryan Lodge
Students were also asked: Who is one person that should be highlighted during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month?
“Dwayne Johnson should be highlighted because he is a big role model for teenagers and future adults. He proves that you can do anything, no matter what your race is. He has accomplished so much in his lifetime that most adults don’t accomplish. He shows that if you put your heart into something that you’re passionate about, anything is possible.” -Sydney Elmquist
“Shohei Ohtani should be recognized because he broke many records like 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season. He can be considered one of, or if not the best, Asian baseball players to ever play the sport.” -Austen Hsieh
“Auliʻi Cravalho should be highlighted during this month because she demonstrates balance. She was a voice actress for Moana, a popular and impactful film. She also has a degree in environmental science from Columbia University.” -Chelsea Tsvirko
“Kalpana Chawla should be recognized because she paved the way for so many young people to go to space who didn’t think they could because of where they came from. She proved that no matter who you are, you can pursue your dreams. Also, it would be a nice memorial for her and show that her sacrifices were not forgotten even though she is no longer alive.” -Andersen Isolda
“I think they should highlight Takashi Murakami because he is a very creative artist and basically made his own art style. ‘Superflat’ is to refer to various flattened forms in Japanese graphic art, animation, pop culture and fine arts, as well as the ‘shallow emptiness’ of Japanese consumer culture.” -Charlie Sluberski
Finally, Punky Aloha’s adventure “all began with banana bread”– Grandma’s famous banana bread! So, the students were asked: What is a special food or meal that is meaningful to you and/or in your culture?
“Pelemeni is important to me. These are dumplings and they can be eaten with or without meat. They are usually dipped in sour cream. This food is important to me because my grandma used to make it for me when I was younger. It’s part of my childhood.” -Mitchell Minevich
“A special food that is meaningful to me is steak. At every outdoor family barbecue, we usually cook steak. It really represents the American in my family, having outdoor barbecues on summer nights blasting music and cooking on the grill. Steak brings out joy and is eaten after celebrations because it brings out happiness in people, especially people in my family!” -Kayla Richman
“A special food or meal that is meaningful to me and my culture is Holubtsi which are Ukrainian stuffed cabbage rolls. My family eats it on Christmas because that is what my dad’s family did when he was growing up.” -Clara Matus
