AAPI at Hotchkiss: Amplifying the Voices of Pan-Asian Students
Group photo in Main Building

Students decorated the Main Building with the contributions and experiences of Asian Americans.

By Darryl Gangloff

Hotchkiss students celebrated Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May by hosting a series of informative events on campus, and their important work extends far beyond those 31 days. Their ongoing mission is to foster healing, unity, and visibility for their Pan-Asian peers.

 “We must normalize the presence of a vocal AAPI community at Hotchkiss and beyond to truly establish the fact that anti-Asian hatred is unacceptable in all its forms,” says Annie Dong ’23, who identifies as Chinese and founded the Pan-Asian Affinity group last year to create a safe space solely for Asian-identifying students. She felt the urge to act following the Atlanta spa shootings where eight people were killed, including six Asian women. Triple A—the School’s separate Asian American Advocacy club that is open to all students—held a virtual meeting the day after the tragedy, and the emotional discussion inspired Annie to create the permanent affinity group for her Pan-Asian classmates. “It was tremendously healing to witness our shared pain and the nuanced impact the shooting had on all of us, she says.

This year, members of the Pan-Asian Affinity group, as well as Triple A club participants and supportive faculty, set to work planning programs leading up to AAPI Heritage Month. The events kicked off with powerful All-School and faculty meetings that featured anonymous testimonies from Pan-Asian students. “I wish you understood that I need patience and love when I try to switch between two cultures for my friends,” one student wrote. “I wish you understood that just because I’m less talkative in class doesn’t mean I care any less,” wrote another.

Other AAPI events included students participating in the virtual Asian American Footsteps Conference, where Marcus Lam ’23, Jonathan Cheng ’23, and James Yae ’23 presented a workshop entitled “It’s Okay Not to be Okay—A Reflection on Masculine Binaries Within Asian Cultures”; decorating the Main Building with information on the contributions and experiences of Asian Americans; and hosting an All-School talk with poet and Bard College Assistant Professor of Written Arts Jenny Xie, whose discussion on multiculturalism and multilingualism was “tremendously insightful,” Annie says. The group also raised more than $900 for the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.

Ella Yu ’24 helped organize the All-School and faculty meetings, and the wide variety of testimonies taught her that “the Asian community cannot be represented by one voice, as we come from a vast range of cultures with different experiences. All of us need to be heard.” She emphasized that the affinity group has helped her feel confident in her Chinese identity—a feeling she wants to inspire in other students. “I'm proud to say that I have become confident in my Asian identity throughout my years at Hotchkiss,” says Ella, who will soon co-lead the Pan-Asian Affinity group. “I developed a deep appreciation and respect for my culture, something I didn't have before coming here.” 

Parth Jain ’24 was drawn to Hotchkiss due to its diverse student population. He identifies as Indian American, and he immediately felt welcomed and comforted by the Pan-Asian community. He joined the affinity group to make sure that “Pan-Asian Bearcats can appreciate that they are not alone.” He wants to continue amplifying the voices of students. “My first year being involved in the club’s activities proved that we can create tangible impacts at Hotchkiss,” he said.

Chemistry instructor Pierre S. Yoo, P'21,P'23, is the associate director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and he offers guidance to students working on AAPI programs with the help of Hotchkiss faculty and community members such as Senior Associate Director of Admission Peggy Hsia, physics instructor Anju Taneja, and former faculty members Nora Yasumura and Annu Dahiya. Yoo admires the leadership, dedication, and bravery of the School’s young advocates. “It is important in my role to give students space and empower them,” says Yoo, who identifies as Korean American. “This work is an example of what can happen if they are given that opportunity.”


Student Impact Statements

We asked Hotchkiss students to tell us why Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is so important to them and how it has impacted their lives.

Can you please share a short self-identity statement?

Annie Dong ’23: My name is Annie (Leyao) Dong, and I am a four-year senior from Shanghai, China. My pronouns are she/her, and I identify as Chinese.

Ella Yu ’24: My name is Ella Yu, and I’m a three-year upper mid. I use she/her pronouns and identify as Chinese. I was born in Houston, TX, to immigrant parents from China.  

Parth Jain ’24: My name is Parth Jain, and I am a three-year upper mid. My pronouns are he/him/his. I was born to immigrant parents from India and currently live in Connecticut. I identify as Indian American.

Why did you become involved in the Pan-Asian Affinity group and the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month programs?

Annie Dong ’23: I founded the Pan-Asian Affinity group after the Atlanta spa shootings last year. The day following the shooting, Triple A (the Asian American Advocacy student club) held a virtual affinity space. I remember crying, mourning, and reflecting in collectivity with the 30 other students on the call; it was tremendously healing to physically witness our shared pain and share the nuanced impact the shooting had on all of us. I soon realized that Hotchkiss lacked a structured affinity space for Asian students to foster communal healing, unity, and visibility, just as the makeshift virtual space had done that night. I founded the Pan-Asian Affinity group with these three key areas (healing, unity, and visibility) as its primary goals. The AAPI programs I facilitated/designed were mainly inspired by the multitude of student leadership conferences I attended, such as the National Association of Independent Schools Student Diversity Leadership Conference, the Asian American Footsteps Conference, and the Let’s Talk conference, where I served as a student panelist. 

Ella Yu ’24: Before coming to Hotchkiss, I had never participated in AAPI programs, nor even known what affinity groups were. I initially started attending Pan-Asian Affinity meetings with pure curiosity, as I didn't know what to expect. After several meetings, I not only learned about important issues such as cultural appropriation, but also participated in discussions about mental health, which were topics usually avoided at schools back home. My desire to continue participating in these discussions only grew as I became intrigued about the experiences of the other students. It shocked me initially to discover how our shared experiences were so similar. 

Parth Jain ’24: Hotchkiss’s diverse student body was enticing when I first discovered the school. As soon as I stepped on campus, I was in awe of the amazing people I interacted with—each who came from unique backgrounds and walks of life. As I began to immerse myself in student life at the start of my first year, I was taken aback by the abundance of events that recognized Pan-Asian culture; this was something that had been foreign in my school life before Hotchkiss. I was first inspired to become involved in the AAPI programs when I attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in the fall of my prep year. I met a unique array of independent school students who shared a passion for creating change within their schools. I also learned about the distinct, concrete ways of contributing to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the communities around me. I came to the realization that just as I had felt incredibly welcomed and comforted by the Pan-Asian community in my first few months at Hotchkiss, it was only necessary that I pay this forward by helping other students feel the same way. When the Pan-Asian Affinity group was created at the School last year during my lower-mid year, I immediately saw it as an opportunity to further fulfill this goal.

What are some key takeaways you learned from participating in the affinity group and working on these events?

Annie Dong ’23: Student leaders must be willing to challenge authority and take risks. For instance, in our “What I Wish You Understood” project, we utilized a school-wide survey to capture the unique pressures Asian students wished their teachers would recognize, presenting findings to the entire student body and faculty, respectively. This project sprouted from a spur-of-the-moment idea of mine after watching a similar video at the Let’s Talk conference—nothing along the same lines had been done before. I chose to go ahead and take the necessary steps to make it happen, as I firmly believed that areas of improvement must be directly pinpointed to those with the power to create institutional change. Despite how daunting the presentations were, a group of student volunteers and I read out loud a collection of statements to the entire school and at a faculty meeting. Through this project, I really wanted to tap into the collectivity at the core of AAPI empowerment, as collectivity legitimizes our struggles, making them utterly irrefutable. 

Also, I absolutely loved poet, author and educator Jenny Xie’s talks. Her insights on multiculturalism and multilingualism was tremendously insightful. I can still clearly remember her talking about how multicultural individuals have the distinct ability, or perhaps advantage, of observance, as we are able to traverse through multiple cultural/social contexts and boundaries—it absolutely blew my mind. Also, she spoke about the importance of reading foreign literature to gain both cultural literacy and appreciation for new styles of writing, which I’d never considered before. I have definitely made it a personal goal this summer to read more foreign literary works. Generally, I think that students should have a chance to speak to AAPI role models and professionals in their desired fields, as it really enforces the fact that they are truly deserving and capable of whatever they wish to accomplish—a difficult reconciliation for many Asian people.

Ella Yu ’24: What I found interesting was that when organizing events, such as the All-School and faculty presentations, I had the difficult responsibility to represent not only my voice, but the many other voices of Hotchkiss Asian-identifying students. During our preparation for the presentations, we received many responses but noticed that some responses to the same question were contradicting each other. For example, what one person wished "their teacher" understood may contrast what another student wished "their teacher" understood. Through this experience, I learned that the Asian community cannot be represented by one voice, as we come from a vast range of cultures with different experiences. All of us need to be heard.

It feels amazing to be heard. During those presentations, I was the only one with the microphone, speaking to the whole school about my struggles and experiences. No one could stop me from being heard. That was the moment when I knew that the Hotchkiss Asian community finally had a voice, and I felt extremely proud to be in that moment.

I am forever grateful for my time not only at Pan-Asian Affinity, but also Hotchkiss in general. I'm proud to say that I have become confident in my Asian identity throughout my years at Hotchkiss. I developed a deep appreciation and respect for my culture, something I didn't have before coming here. I've also met amazing friends who support me for who I am. 

Parth Jain ’24: Working on AAPI events with fellow club members has been uniquely eye-opening. One of my most important takeaways has been the importance of the sense of community that blossoms from these events. This applies specifically to the All-School and faculty presentations, which sparked reflective conversation and brought the community together to consider otherwise overlooked issues. I also appreciate the structure of having a Pan-Asian role model in our events; the most conspicuous example of this was Jenny Xie’s wonderful affinity talk and All-School presentation. Many students were captivated not only by her poetry, but by the challenges she overcame as a Pan-Asian woman to achieve the success she finds today. It was also insightful to hear her words of advice to students that derive inspiration from what she’s done. This idea of a role model is also present in the decorations of Main Building for AAPI Heritage Month, as many of the blurbs we hung up detailed Pan-Asian figures who made notable contributions in a variety of fields. I believe it is necessary to promote this in the future as it allows students to feel connected and appreciative of Asian heritage.

What do you hope the Hotchkiss community learned from participating in these events?

Annie Dong ’23: I hope that the Hotchkiss community recognizes the complexities of Asian identity as beyond the model minority. The societal misconception that all discrimination faced by AAPI individuals are “positive” is extremely detrimental, as it delegitimizes our obstacles both internally and externally. With the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, which we discussed in a brief All-School presentation prior to our fundraiser, I sincerely hope that the School community will recognize that our struggles are concrete and real. I hope the community begins to consider the underlying systematic and cultural forces exerting pressure on their members of color, and to treat others with greater humility and empathy. 

Ella Yu ’24: From reading the blurbs around Main Building to listening to our All-School presentation, I hope that the Hotchkiss community learned that we are not an outlier; we are simply just like every other Hotchkiss student, and we deserve to be heard the same way. 

Parth Jain ’24: I hope that Pan-Asian Bearcats can appreciate that they are not alone. It is always vital to share and acknowledge experiences of Pan-Asian students who often feel isolated and unheard in the typical school environment. On a holistic scale, the issues relating to AAPI heritage are deeply interconnected with the topics of identity and discrimination as a whole. One observation that I have made is the misconception that AAPI heritage is not relevant to those who are not Pan-Asian. Through these events, as well as those in the future, I hope that the community can be cognizant of the relevance of these topics in helping create a more supportive overall School community, and one where students can always uplift each other.

How did Hotchkiss students and teachers help you with this work?

Annie Dong ’23: Mr. Yoo, Ms. Yasumura, and Ms. Hsia were tremendously helpful with my initiatives this year. They always offered feedback and support whenever I needed it, going as far as making food for our fundraiser! Ms. Yasumura was the person who gave me all the necessary skill sets and considerations to host my own affinity meetings, from community conversation norms to tips on embracing silence, and she’s always there to support my often-impulsive ideas. Mr. Yoo often shows up with Hi-Chews for our affinity meetings that are extremely conducive to increasing attendance. Working with these three faculty members has actually enabled me to build really close relationships with them. I recently switched into Mr. Yoo’s advisory, and have been in contact with Ms. Yasumura all summer. I’m so grateful to have such a genuinely caring team behind me—I could not do this without their constant check-ins and relentless support. 

Ella Yu ’24: Pan-Asian Affinity is extremely grateful for the teachers who helped us endlessly. Mr. Yoo, Ms. Yasumura, and Ms. Hsia were beyond kind to help us organize events, coordinate with speakers and other adults, and especially gave us confidence during our All-School presentations. The decorations around Main Building and our National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum fundraiser would have been impossible without the help of Hotchkiss students. Their support and dedication meant everything, and for that, we are forever appreciative. 

Parth Jain ’24: I have had amazing experiences working with fellow members of the Pan-Asian Affinity group, yet I also cannot stress enough the importance of the broader Hotchkiss community contributing to benefit the Pan-Asian community. I was delighted to see students jumping at the opportunity to donate to the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum in May, as well as those who expressed their appreciation of Jenny Xie’s All-School speech. One group of students I’d like to highlight are those in the Pan-Asian community who contributed responses to the “I Wish You Understood” prompts, which were introduced in another All-School presentation. It is incredibly brave and empowering to be vulnerable and speak one’s mind on topics that are not easy to reflect on. Every contribution from students—big or small—has helped us fulfill the club’s goal of spreading awareness and recognizing AAPI issues. Mr. Yoo and Ms. Yasumura are two faculty members who have notably aided the group’s work. They have helped in a number of ways, from providing advice in the planning of our All-School presentation to helping organize the raffle prizes during the fundraiser. A wide array of faculty pitched in as well, such as those who helped us decorate the Main Building and the teachers who set up group feeds, as well as those who led meaningful conversations about the topics that our work was meant to bring light to.

AAPI Heritage Month is in May, but these events are a culmination of a year’s work. Why do you feel it is important to keep this discussion ongoing?

Annie Dong ’23: It is important to keep this discussion going because structural pressures like rising anti-Asian hate and the model minority myth will not disappear. Halting efforts and ignoring these ever present issues will only induce further silencing of the Asian community, which has a tendency to minimize our struggles in the first place. We must normalize the presence of a vocal AAPI community at Hotchkiss and beyond to truly establish the fact that anti-Asian hatred is unacceptable in all its forms. Also, more than 23 percent of Hotchkiss’s student body is Asian—while not all may attend our events, I still think it's vital to provide monthly spaces for those who need a place to unwind, or need support and affirmation from their peers. Even if it only benefits a few Asian students, it’s enough. 

Parth Jain ’24: The work never ends, and AAPI Heritage Month would be fruitless if its message wasn’t spread beyond May 31. It is always important to keep the discussion going because, in many cases, one idea or source of inspiration will accumulate. In other words, if even a minority of students leave the conversation with something to reflect on, that can lead to a chain reaction which holds monumental impact for the AAPI community in the future. As many Pan-Asian experiences have been erased in the past, it is only even more necessary to maintain the conversation so that important messages are spread to those that need them.

What is your vision for the future of the Pan-Asian Affinity group and AAPI programs?

Annie Dong ’23: For the next year, I’m excited to work more closely with the student leadership board. We are planning some events for welcoming days to embrace new Pan-Asian students into the existing community, such as Pan-Asian Affinity brunches and potential mentoring programs. We are also working to collaborate with two national nonprofits, the Woodblock Press, a Pan-Asian publication, and Project Lotus, a nationwide youth-led organization for AAPI mental health. Through these two nonprofits, we will hopefully bring more unique resources and opportunities to AAPI students at Hotchkiss for healing, unity, and visibility. 

Ella Yu ’24: Pan-Asian Affinity has allowed me to feel proud of my Asian identity through an appreciation of my Asian culture. My goal is to reciprocate this appreciation to other Asian students by inspiring them to feel confident in their identity. Some of my hopes for Pan-Asian Affinity are to host more All-School presentations, continue our National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum fundraiser, and implement a speaker series where we invite guests to our meetings, like Jenny Xie, to hopefully inspire students. Through these endeavors, I hope to grow Pan-Asian Affinity to become even more impactful for the Hotchkiss Asian community.

Parth Jain ’24: I am so glad that community members have become more conscious of the work that gets done through the Pan-Asian Affinity group, and I think it is all the more important to amplify the voice of students in our community. My first year being involved in the club’s activities proved that we can create tangible impacts at Hotchkiss, so I am hopeful that more students can contribute and use the club as a platform to help not only Pan-Asian Bearcats but even communities outside of Hotchkiss. I want to encourage the use of spaces in our community for students to feel comfortable in speaking their minds about certain topics. I also see the Pan-Asian Affinity group as a means to promote cultural activities and events that would make students feel at home. It is challenging in a boarding school environment to stay rooted with one’s heritage—especially for Asian international students. I hope that students can gain from the Pan-Asian Affinity group in this way and be inspired to participate in the future.

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