The biggest event of the year for the Asian Pacific American Student Association (APAA), the culture show, was held on November 18.
Suenary Philavanh, APAA president and international studies major, spent weeks planning the event. She was grateful to the students who helped organize this year’s show and she also recognized what a powerful experience it was for her and many others.
“The culture show is more like a talent show or showcase,” she says. “It is entertaining, but also we are able to express our different cultures. Students from all different backgrounds share their identities,” Suenary says.
The cultural show brought Suenary closer to members of the group. “[Being] born in a traditional Cambodian family in a small Minnesota town was not easy for me,” she says. Her accent and family traditions set her apart from her classmates.
“Serving as a member in the APAA is a turning point in my life,” Suenary says. “In the club, I shared personal stories.” She was able to talk about the difficulty she had speaking her family language and other embarrassing moments as she grew up.
The APAA’s mission statement is to preserve, teach and learn Asian/Pacific American heritage, and provide a comfortable place for members to share their experiences and stories. Every year the club provides various events, speakers and movie nights.
After being a member of the group for a year and leading the event, Suenary had a revelation. “I realized that being different is unique and a real treasure in my life,” she says.
About the student organizations in the UMD Multicultural Center
Photos by Vivian Phan