International Night is a staple event that has taken place at John Dewey High School for many years. It’s an event that brings students from different backgrounds together to celebrate and shed light on each other’s cultures.
As one of the biggest events held during the school year, International Night provides a variety of student-led performances from different cultures and an abundance of food options- all for the admission of $15.
“It’s all about different cultures coming together — trying food, experiencing diversity, and enjoying performances. It’s kind of like combining everything into one melting pot and mixing it all together,” said Ms Caraballo, one of the event organizers.
Behind the scenes there is a lot of preparation that goes into making it possible. Students rehearsing, food being brought in from different regions, preparing and labelling a Halal menu, and overall deciding what the price would add up to.
This year tickets increased by five dollars, making it $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
“We also want to make sure we’re representing a lot of cultures, so we divide everything into regions. We try to have at least two to three dishes per region. If we don’t get enough teachers to bring in food, then we need to fill that gap ourselves,” said Ms. Caraballo, emphasizing the amount of preparation and thought that goes into this event.
Students and faculty gather to enjoy a diverse buffet at International Night.
For students who performed at International Night, the event was more than just a performance to them, it held a deeper meaning.
A senior who took part in the event, Sameer Saleemi, highlighted that being able to represent his culture was something that was extremely significant to him.
“I never really got to connect properly with my culture growing up as a first generation immigrant, but it was nice to proudly represent it when no one else wanted to,” said Saleemi. He went on to explain that the night gave him a deep sense of appreciation for the environment he was brought up in and felt more inspired to appreciate and embrace his own background.
Students who attended the event said it was a night to remember. Senior Minahil Syeda, who went to support her peers, said her favorite part had to be performances.
Performers showcase their traditional dance choreography at the international night.
“I liked seeing all the different dances and cultural outfits because it made the event feel really exciting and energetic,” said Syeda. She describes the night held such a positive atmosphere, students were enjoying food, performances and were all coming together. Syeda also added that the raise in ticket prices this year was definitely worth it.
International Night served as a celebration of all cultures, being more than just a school event. The night brought together people from many different backgrounds and built a stronger sense of community within the school.
Just as Ms. Caraballo hoped students were able to learn about different cultures and find appreciation for their own as well. International Night was able to leave a lasting impression on students who attended the event, and took place in it.