Students Live Out MLK's Dream by Sharing Each Other's Cultures [VIDEO]

Hasbrouck Heights High School not only opened its doors for regular instruction on Martin Luther King Day but it used the opportunity to open several other doors into the culture and lives of many different areas of the world.

Throughout the day Monday, students had the opportunity to visit the media center during their gym period to explore other cultures and learn about diversity. The event was brought to them by fellow students in the Multicultural Club who put together displays, demonstrations and even a video devoted to learning about other cultures in honor of Martin Luther King’s dream.

The event, which held the fitting title of “Living the Dream,” was originally born out of one student's vision to bring together a group of students of all different nationalities in the same way the Dr. Martin Luther King visualized in his “I Have a Dream” speech. That student, high school senior Mehron Aberha, saw that dream of his come true this Monday along with fellow Multicultural Club leader Patricia Angeles.

Originally the event would have first taken place last year however due to administration changes taking place at the time the event had been postponed. Aberha’s ideas later led to the establishment of the Multicultural Club which is now made up of 60 students, which is about 10 percent of the entire high school student body.

Joseph Mastropietro, interim assistant principal, said by having school on Martin Luther King Day along with this event it provides a great opportunity for students to learn about diversity and get an education in other cultures in honor of Dr. King.

English teacher Laura Czekaj, who is the advisor for the Multicultural Club, said the students get a lot more out of this than from being at home on this holiday.

Upon walking around the room, students could get a lesson about Egypt, Dominican Republic, Palestine, Africa, Tibet, Lebanon just to name a few. Each student who created one of the many displays served as a walking encyclopedia into the many  interesting aspects that make up these many cultures.

By just spending a few minutes with some of the students one could walk away with a new knowledge he or she may not have had before. Information like learning that Ecuador is known for bananas and cacao beans. Its coastal region is small but is the most popular amongst tourists, said student Maria Alcivar, who put together the Ecuador display.

Julianne Chedid, Daniella and Isabella Capone taught others things about Lebanon many may not know such as the cedar tree is its natural symbol and pride and Jesus performed his first miracle in this country.  

Hasan Ali and Kayed Hammad both wore the native scarf of Palestine known as the lafha. Ali pointed out the details of the scarf as one end shows an image of the mosque known as Dome of the Rock and the other is an image of the country. He also explained some of the history of the Zionist takeover of Palestine.

Angeles said religion is a huge part of the culture in the Phillipines. Three main religions are Christian, Muslim and Roman Catholic with the latter being the most popular one, she said.

One of the most colorful displays was the Tibet table where  high school junior Tenzin Nordon played the instrument known in Tibet as Yenchen or Dulchmar in English. Nordon, along with fellow junior Tenzin Lama and freshman Kelsang Dolma wore traditional Tibetan outfits and demonstrated aspects of the culture.

Dolma picked up a miniature replica of a yak, which featured the real fur of the animal,  explaining that the animal was used for transporting goods. They also had two mannequins on display, one draped in traditional Tibetan female dress complete with a striped silk apron-type garment that is worn by women who are married. The other mannequin was dressed in male Tibetan wear. The girls also showed two other instruments the Dhanui, which is like a 3-stringed guitar and a Piwang which looks like a mini-drum.

To mark the beginning of the celebration the students held a cultural night on Friday where each student in the group brought in food which represented his or her culture. Aberha hopes to host other events such as this one again soon.

 “Culture can really develop you into a bigger person,” Aberha said adding that the event gives others the opportunity to explore beyond the one corner of the world they are familiar with.