International Week Rally Takes Students Around the Globe

Priscilla Ng

Staff Writer

    ASB wrapped up a week of cultural celebrations on February 28 with the annual International Week rally. The rally featured dance performances from some of the many clubs at American that chose to participate.

    “I definitely think the rally was a great success as everything went according to plan and we didn’t run out of time, which is what happened at the Winter Rally,” ASB Club Commissioner and senior Michelle Ma said. “All the dances were great and I’m greatly thankful to all the clubs who made the rally a success, from sending me music files by the deadline, emailing me their practice videos, and attending the rally rehearsal the day before [February 27].”

    Despite students’ busy schedules, participants took the time to coordinate and learn dances from the different clubs.

    “I participated in Korea Club’s dance,” senior Lanna Tau said. “It was a very exciting experience because I knew it’d be the last time I’d be in a rally, but [it was] also hectic because [it felt like] February passed by so quickly and we didn’t have much time to practice.”

    Students also enjoyed being able to watch the many cultural dances the rally offered

    “Everyone seemed to be cheering and clapping through the whole thing,” sophomore Ryan Tang said. “But my favorite part of the rally was the dances from Korea Club.”

    Although the rally was well-received, ASB acknowledges that there is always room for improvement.

    “One thing that ASB will work to improve for future rallies is getting the audience to go up the bleachers because having tons of people just standing on the gym floor is unacceptable when there’s space at the top of the bleachers,” Ma said. “Also, I think our school culture should change because having people walk out of the rally before the end is completely rude and disrespectful to the rally commissioners, ASB, the performers, and everyone else who has worked hard for this rally.”

    Despite any difficulties though, students enjoyed and appreciated both the rally itself and what International Week as a whole represents.

    “International Week is important because we need to see more representation of all the different students at our school because there are so many people who I didn’t even know existed!” Tau said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for students to learn about all these different cultures.”