A new addition to the numerous clubs at Sierra Pacific High School is the Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance. The club was officially established on April 14, 2021, by student Tingyu Gong. Gong explained organizing the club was a way to display and express gratitude for other cultures. “I created this club to promote cultural diversity,” Gong said.
However, she also wanted to create a safe space for many of the API, American Asian Pacific Islander, students at Sierra Pacific and encourage them to pursue or strive for what they want saying, “[To] Create a sense of community for AAPI students at school. I hope that having more representation will encourage BIPOC, Black Indigenous People of Color, students to take more active participation in school activities and positions of leadership.”
Along with Gong’s sole idea or purpose of the club, she and many members of APISA agree that the alliance’s message and those within the alliance make it unique and overall separate it from other clubs at Sierra Pacific.
Fellow club member and SPHS student Shatera Yamaura thinks that APISA is not only beneficial to SPHS but is also able to create a space for students to relate and learn about one other, allowing students to see the diversity within SPHS. “I joined because I wanted to learn about different cultures and meet new people who I could relate to,” Yamaura stated.
“I think this [club] benefits the school and students because it allows students to see the diversity in our community and learn more about others as, not just a group, but as an individual.”
Sherylene Nastor, who also attends SPHS and is a part of APSA believes this club can bring ongoing issues to light. “Starting the Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance club can help spread awareness about the increasing amount of Asian hate crimes occurring,” Nastor says.
“Many people don’t understand that it is not just something shown on social media and that many Asians have faced a lot of micro-aggression in the past. They don’t realize that glossing over something just because it’s “trending” and it’s a “gen z thing” is harmful to our community especially since Asians are still facing a lot of discrimination since the start of the pandemic.”
Although the club’s main focus is to encourage, support and spread positivity to fellow AAPI students, the club is also quite proud of its uniqueness. Not only is the APSA the only one of its kind throughout the Hanford Joint Union High School District, but the individuals are also what truly makes the alliance its own. With Gong saying, “The students make this club unique. The AAPI community consists of a broad range of ethnicities, which could bring a great amount of cultural exchange.”
Overall, the club is excited to educate and share their cultures with other students, even if they aren’t Asian or Pacific Islanders, anyone can join the club.