Each month, we highlight our eighth grade journalism classes’ thoughts and ideas about the diverse cultures that make our community great!! In April, we recognize Arab American Heritage Month. This month, students in the elementary schools read Where Butterflies Fill the Sky by Zahra Marwan. This story is about her journey immigrating from Kuwait to New Mexico. You can read the story here.
Here are the questions that the students were asked about this story:
Write about when you feel like you truly belong–is it in a specific place, with a certain group of people, or an activity/hobby?
“A place I feel like I belong is my middle school softball team. We just started our season a couple weeks ago, and I already have a great bond with everyone on our team. For starters, my coach is amazing and is already planning team bonding which makes me excited for the season. I knew most of the girls already, before starting, but our bond has grew stronger and we have already made so many memories.”. -Lola Tanki
“I belong when I play in a sports group because we all play the same sport, and we all have something in common. Usually, we are all athletic and outgoing.” -Abby Hsu
“I feel like I belong when I’m with my family because no matter what I do, we will always be connected by blood. I also know that I won’t feel judged with my family, and I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not.” -Laurel Giordano
“At summer camp, I feel like I truly belong because all my friends make me feel welcome and treat me like family. Even though we can get into fights, we always resolve them and laugh about them later on.” -Jocelyn Goldberg
“A time and place where I feel like I truly belong and people want me there is when I am hanging out with my cousins and family friends on Christmas Eve. When I get there, everyone gets excited and gives me hugs and I feel like I am part of something. All of my family around me are similar and we just feed off of each other which makes me feel like we all belong together.” -Mia Brodo
“A place where I feel like I truly belong is in musical theater programs. This took me so unbelievably too long to realize, and then I went to see one of the WHS productions, As soon as the curtain opened, the music started to play, and the lights adjusted, it clicked in my brain that this was my thing. As I watched all the moving parts going on the stage, I had the biggest smile on my face. Musical theatre is a place for me where, even if you’re horrible, everyone makes you feel like you’re a big Broadway star. Musical theatre has always been my place I run to in a time of need,” -Gabi Lopez
What specifically makes you feel like you belong when you are in a group of people?
“The way people talk to each other because there are secret meanings to certain things. I feel like when I am up to date with what is going on in my group that I truly belong.” -Mason Roziak
“Whenever I’m with a group of people, I feel like I belong when everyone is talkative and welcoming. I love when people have a lot of stories to share and talk about so I can feel more comfortable sharing mine. I also love talking to people who have the same interests as me.” -Alexis Ruzika
“I feel that I truly belong when I’m with my friends and family because they make me feel appreciated and always listen to what I have to say.” -Liam Tukaczynski
“I feel like a feeling of belonging is when I am with my family. They make me feel good about myself even if I am down on myself. I feel like I know I can be 100 percent myself with them.” -Luke Levitt
“I feel like I truly belong when I am around people that I can trust and actually have an enjoyable time with. I feel this way with my super close friends from school, my family, and my hockey team.” -Liam Benson
“Something that makes me feel like I belong is when people talk to each other as a respected peer because it shows the level of respect people have for each other, and that they care for their friends’ feelings.” -Mia Baron
“I feel like I belong when everyone talks to each other like they know what they can and cannot say. When we tease each other, but never say anything meant to hurt. When someone realizes they hurt someone, they apologize. When people recognize that sometimes silence in a conversation is better than pointless and unnecessary noise.” -Charlotte Katz
“I feel like I belong when conversations are inclusive and not secretive. Secrets can feel mean, and conversations can seem separated if the topic is not shared with everyone.” -Lila Spadaro
If you had to explain the feeling of belonging to someone else, what would you say?
“I’d say being able to show your authentic self. If you have to change anything about yourself, even the littlest thing for someone else, you don’t ‘belong.’. Being your true self brings a reassuring feeling that someone you belong to likes you for who you are, not for someone you want to be. Also whenever someone remembers little things about you that may not matter, but they remember, brings a sense of belonging knowing they listen to you.” -Meghan Carew
“If I had to describe the feeling of belonging to someone else I would say that at first it makes you smile and gets you excited, but after that you feel relieved and complete because you don’t have any stress.” -Julia Kopec
“It’s almost acceptance, like your being accepted, and it’s a nice feeling. Almost pride.” -Lucca Perrotto
“It’s a sense of calm I feel when I feel like i belong because I’m not scared to say what I think or feel.” -Josephine Serapiglia
“When you feel comfortable and like you can act however you want without other people judging you. When you are able to be your true self, and they love and appreciate you for who you are.” -Elizabeth Chang
Who is one person you feel should be highlighted during Arab American Heritage Month?
“Sarah Attar should be highlighted during Arab American Heritage Month. Sarah Attar is a track and field athlete who was one of the first women to represent Saudi Arabia in the Olympics in 2012. She was born in California and holds dual citizenship through her dad who was born in Saudi Arabia. In high school she competed for cross country. She went to Pepperdine for college and earned a B.A. in studio arts. She was one of the few athletes chosen to compete at the Olympics in 2012. In 2015 she trained full-time with distance runners. She has always lived in the U.S., but she goes to Saudi Arabia every year.” -Grace Freeman
“Steve Jobs should be added because he changed our world in many good ways that should be shown to our school. Steve Jobs’ dad was a Syrian immigrant and has Arab culture within him. Steve Jobs was the co-founder of Apple and helped create the iphone that changed peoples lives forever.” -Sammie Marx
“DJ Khaled because he is a well known figure in media and that is big with kids my age. If we add someone that is more common then we can spread more awareness and celebrate all figures that made a change that are Arab American.” -Sid Nair
I also think DJ Khaled is worthy of recognition because he always brings a lot of exciting energy. Also, a lot of people look up to him with his awesome humor and ability to work hard. He also has a motivational brand that highlights success, hard work, and positivity. In addition, I feel his music is a way to bring all different types of people together.” -Max Burkey
“Someone I think should be highlighted in our slideshow for Arab American Heritage Month is Sue Bird. She is a WNBA star. She deserves to be highlighted because not only is she an amazing player, she was a five time olympic gold medalist. She has impacted the WNBA and impacted my view on women’s basketball. I am inspired to accomplish goals just like she did. Similarly to me, she has most likely impacted many other young basketball players. She will forever be a star in history.” -Abby Bresnahan
“Gigi Hadid is an iconic supermodel of our time and one of the highest-paid models in the world. She began modeling at the age of two and has since won countless awards. She has an older sister, Bella, who is also one of the world’s highest-paid models. Gigi grew up in California and lived a very nice life between a ranch in Santa Barbara and a mansion in Beverly Hills. Her mom was a former model, and her dad was a developer, causing her to always be in the spotlight. She got her breakout from walking the runway in 2014’s NYC fashion week. Since then, Gigi has appeared in over 35 Vogue covers, has won “Model of the Year: Women”, and has received many more awards. She also does nonprofit work with Pencils of Promise and UNICEF to help give back to the community. All these accomplishments and selfless actions prove that Gigi Hadid deserves to be highlighted in the Arab American Heritage Month.” -Jocelyn Goldberg
“Robert Saleh is someone who has now paved the way for other Arab American coaches to showcase the way they coach on the biggest stage possible. Also, he has shown that he is truly a great coach by winning a Super Bowl as the defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, so with all this, I think he should be added in since he embodies everything the Arab Americans stand for.” -Aaron Judka
“Steve Kerr should be included in the list. As an eight-time NBA champion, as a player, and coach, he should be recognized as a trailblazer for Arab Americans.” -Liam Rabbitt
“One person that we should celebrate is Ahmed Zewali. He was the first Arab person to win the Nobel Prize in Science. He revolutionized a type of chemistry called femtochemistry. Femtochemistry allows scientists to watch atoms and molecules during chemical reactions. This led to countless important breakthroughs.” -Vani Srivastav
“Steve Jobs should be recognized because he was one of the greatest entrepreneurs of all time and created technology and companies that possibly nobody else could have done. Also, I think almost everyone who goes to EIS uses something that was originally made or invented by them.” -Lucas Kessler
