HEB ISD School & Family Magazine Spring 2016 | Page 14

Trinity High School
Diversity Week
Diverse. Different. Unique. Three words that describe
Trinity Trojans and this rare gem of a school where
so many cultures co-exist. When this year’s student
council officers decided to celebrate the cultural
blending at Trinity High School, the idea for Diversity
Week was born.
Diversity Week, which coincides with Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day, took place January 19-22. The goal was to convey the distinctive makeup of the
school’s students and to celebrate what makes each individual unique in this diverse world.
“Our aim for the week was to reveal to both the students and the families just how diverse Trinity
is,” said senior Jillianne Baltazar. “I explained to my parents how different our school is but I did not
think they could quite grasp the idea.”
Several events took place throughout the week. During lunches students marked their family’s
origins on a world map, outlined their hands on a mural, and wrote about what makes them unique
on links that would become a “unity chain”.
“Our school offers such an exclusive opportunity to be exposed to various cultures and people. I
believe that embracing and accepting such diversity is important and necessary in order to prepare
for all the different kinds of people they will meet out there in the world,” said student council sponsor
Jessica Rader.
A “unity quilt” depicting highlighted students and symbols that represent them welcomed everyone
in the hall of flags. A weeklong bake sale featured international cuisines with treats donated by
the students. The week’s celebrations wrapped up with a Friday pep rally where cultural groups
performed traditional dances.
“Having the chance to see cultures from all over the world was awesome,” Baltazar said. “I loved seeing
people dressed up at the pep rally in clothing that represents part of who they are. It was beautiful.”
The student council had to move quickly to enact their plan.
“Everything was last-minute. We knew that the winter pep rally was coming up and we wanted
to incorporate Diversity Week into it. Somehow we managed to crunch it all in just two and a half
weeks,” said Rader.
The student council hopes to make the event a tradition.
“Most definitely I think it has the potential to last,” said senior Fabiha Mobin. “When I was in 9th
grade I remembered that there was some sort of culture event here so when I came to the school
I was anticipating it.” Not having plans in place for a cultural celebration surprised Mobin. “As an
officer I had to make it happen. I can only hope that next year’s officers feel the same way about
continuing the tradition.”
-Adapted from an article by Trinity High School senior Victoria Antonmarchi

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