Trinity Hall continued the annual tradition of celebrating Cultural Day on campus. Students and faculty gathered together for an exciting day of learning and celebrating the different cultures that make up our community. Cultural Day provided students and faculty with a day to show off their customs and traditions that are crucial to their background through a celebration of food, song, dance, and literature.
This outstanding event could not have been facilitated without the tireless work of senior Sheila Riano-Cruz. With this year being her second year organizing this Trinity Hall tradition, she stated, “Cultural Day allows people who usually prefer to blend into the background to step forward, have conversations, and share a piece of their identity with the community; allowing us to understand them as individuals better. It is always so impactful to me to see how Cultural Day brings the community together to celebrate our individualities and identities. Cultural Day was very beautiful and I will never find the adequate words to describe how much it meant to me to see our community members take pride in who they are.” Riano-Cruz’s dedication and passion for Cultural Day was evident at the event, which will hopefully set a precedent for years to follow.
The students thoroughly enjoy experiencing and tasting a worldly spread of different backgrounds. Some notable highlights from this event included junior Joy Ogunsakin's spirited performance of “Jehovah You are the Most High God” by Kofi Thompson, representing her Nigerian culture along with a delicious array of food. In addition, the performance of “Champs-Elysees” by French IV, V, and AP students gave the Monarchs a chance to sing along to this classic French song. This was accompanied by fresh crèpes prepared by the AP French students, a fan favorite throughout the student body.
Gathering together and embracing our unique backgrounds strengthens our community and gives us a sense of appreciation for one another. Celebrations like Cultural Day at Trinity Hall allow us to embrace diversity, see beyond our own experiences, and create a sense of belonging where each of us feels seen and valued.