Plant High School’s annual Culture Day, held at Dad’s Stadium on March 14, was a vibrant celebration of global cultures. Countries represented ranged from Turkey and Jamaica to Israel and South Korea. Students showcased their heritage through traditional foods and cultural pride.
Aly Prator, a 10th grader, represented the Philippines with ube pandesal and puto, expressing her appreciation for the happy and resilient lifestyle she witnessed while visiting the country.
“I went to the Philippines this summer, and witnessing the lifestyle was a great experience. That’s something I’m proud of,” Prator said.
Similarly, Kaylin Fedin, also in 10th grade, introduced her peers to South Korean cuisine with kimbap, dumplings, and kimchi fried rice. She expressed pride in the shared culture within her school.
“I’m happy I got to meet people at my school that share the same culture as me,” Fedin said.
Representing Jamaican culture, 12th grader Ricky Nacimiento brought the flavors of rasta pasta and jerk chicken while expressing his admiration for reggae music, particularly the legendary Bob Marley.
India Martinez, a 9th grader, shared the sweet taste of Puerto Rican flan, highlighting her culture’s rich and welcoming nature.
“Something I’m proud about my culture is all the amazing and beautiful people there and everyone who’s interested to learnmore about it,” Martinez said.
Senior Lukah Merchor introduced others to Peruvian culture by bringing aji de gallina and arroz con pato.
“Family is a big part of Peruvian culture,” Merchor said. “We love cooking together; it brings us really close.”
Representing Jewish culture, sophomore Samantha Iglesias expressed the unity she felt through the dishes her group cooked.
“We brought hamantaschen, rugelach, sufganiyah, and challah,” Iglesias said. “I feel a sense of unity because in almost every Jewish country, we eat these foods.”
Finally, juniors Oliver Habiyakare and Marcus Harris represented Uganda. They brought an array of dishes and foods. “We wanted to immerse everyone in Ugandan culture,” Harris said. “We brought kabalagala, which are Ugandan pancakes. We also brought Ugandan apple juice.”
“We also brought chapati and mandazi,” Habiyakare added. “I’m really proud of the tasty foods and culture we have in Uganda; we got to share it with everyone else,” Habiyakareconcluded.
As the sun set over Dad’s Stadium, the success of Plant High School’s Culture Day was evident in the smiles and shared experiences of the students. This event highlighted the cultures represented at the school and fostered a deeper appreciation for diversity within the community. Through the exchange of stories and culinary delights, students like Prator, Fedin, Martinez, and Merchor showcased the unique aspects of their heritage, building bridges of understanding and respect. Such events remind us of the power of cultural exchange and reinforce the importance of embracing our differences, in line with the school motto, “Strength through Unity.”
Design by Ayaan Gupta