According to the California Department of Education, Santa Clara County ranks third in the state for the largest population of immigrant students at almost 12,000. For many of them, ethnic communities are especially important in developing a sense of belonging, adjusting to their daunting new environments and feeling a sense of security. As schools become increasingly diverse, the development of cross-ethnic friendships and the strengthening of like groups has become important to being comfortable for immigrant students.
The cultural shock of adapting to American life is often intimidating for many who do not speak English. The social norms and educational requirements adopted at schools such as SCHS are unheard of for many of them because they must suddenly and quickly assimilate.
Sophomore Ryan Chan detailed one of the many differences in education.
“(Education in Malaysia) is really different from here because they rank the students based on how intelligent they are, then place you in classes based on your ranking,” Chan said.
To facilitate acclimatization, students have gathered together to form clubs or friend groups that encourage social bonds and cultural pride among people of similar backgrounds or experiences. Raza Latina, Chinese Student Association, Filipinx-American Student Association and Korean Club are among such communities fostering social integration based on similar cultural history, or between students seeking to better understand their heritage and that of their families.
Junior Katleen Shen Sia reminisced on her experience participating in the FASA presentation since sophomore year.
“I remember last year specifically during lunch when it was the day of the FASA presentation, we did karaoke in the theater, and the energy that I felt with other club members was lively,” Sia said. “I felt as if I went back to the Philippines, and it brought back the nostalgia and fun moments I had with my old friends from the Philippines.”
Some underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, however, feel overlooked when their social communities are absent as a result. Without the support of peers with relatable experiences, underrepresented students have a more difficult time adjusting to a shift in customs.
Junior Umar Mundzir feels he would be more comfortable and welcome among like-minded cultural groups.
“It is important to me to have a larger Singaporean and Malaysian community here because we have some similarities background-wise that will help us to connect and support each other better,” Mundzir said.
Social bonds formed during highschool are vital in inciting individual growth and development, especially when adjusting to diverse cultures. In multicultural environments, cross-ethnic friendships on campus can also inspire further cooperation and appreciation of differences.
By openly engaging with peers of similar backgrounds, SCHS students explore their own identities and feel more welcome in an otherwise unfamiliar environment. Sia expressed a sense of nostalgia in having a community with similar backgrounds to connect with.
“Whenever someone feels down or whenever I feel something that relates to missing the Philippines, other immigrant students can relate to me and share their memories from their own countries,” Sia said.