These Kitchener students say it's about time Asian History Month is celebrated at their high school

Students gathered for a celebration of local Asian musicians and artists at Eastwood Collegiate Institute in Kitchener Thursday and the event is one students who organized it say has been a long time coming.

Kira Schlei, a Grade 12 student, founded the Asian Student Union at the high school and was "ecstatic" with the One Asia, Many Cultures event, which saw students from around the region bused in for it.

When the student union started last year, there were two members. 

"So to have a board-wide event that we hosted was incredible," Schlei said. "If you told me last year that this is what we would be doing right now, I'd be like, no way. There's no way."

The two-hour showcase featured performances by spoken word and hip hop artist Champa, dancer and performer Kate Kamo McHugh, songs by Clarissa Diokno with Caleb Khuu accompanying her on guitar and musician Janice Jo Lee. Afterwards, students were able to sample food in the school's cafeteria.

All of the performers commented on how these kinds of events never happened when they were in school and they were thrilled to celebrate with the students at this inaugural event.

Carmen Yang, a Grade 12 student who was the other member of the Asian Student Union when it launched, appreciated all the performers who took part.

"I really loved how we got to see so many Asian performers, especially in the arts because as an Asian child, a lot of times I feel like we're pushed towards STEM programs, but seeing all of them being artists is really inspiring," Yang said.

"I especially really like Janice's part as well because they really put an emphasis on the fact that they're here, they're an artist, and they're also queer. And as a queer child, it's like, it's really inspiring to hear this."

Vaishnave Raina is one of the student trustees on the Waterloo Region District School Board and shared with the audience what it was like to come to Canada.

"We were met with racist comments instead of, you know, welcoming with open arms. And I grew up in a school that had mostly white students," Raina said.

"Instead of feeling trapped all the time, I decided to use that to encourage others and show them that, you know what, you can grow from that, and I think all the performers showed that today." 

The message Raina hopes other students take away from the event is that diversity is something people need to keep in mind every day.

"It starts here, but what you need is that action and you need to keep going and keep doing it," Raina said.