The Asian Student Association club (ASA) at Braintree High meets every Friday afterschool in the cafeteria. Despite the name, ASA is not just for Asian students, as anyone is free to visit the club.
“Making sure that we’re open,” is the goal, according to Eric Le, the President of ASA
as this is an important value to the club while they aim to be a safe place for Asian students. ASA can be for students who want to express or learn about Asian cultures, make new connections with others, or have fun. Eric also describes ASA as “a place to feel like you belong” outside the stress of school.
Throughout the club’s years, ASA has partnered up with several organizations, Quincy Asian Resources Inc. (QARI). QARI’s mission is to improve the lives of immigrants, including Asians. Working with these organizations allows ASA to give students opportunities outside a school environment.
“[We] give out membership programs…provide people with opportunities to grow outside of school and to meet new people,” explains Emily Lei, the president of ASA.
These opportunities could involve volunteering in cultural events, like the annual Lunar New Year Festival, which allow students to contribute to their community and gain experience. In addition to these events, ASA also celebrates cultural holidays inside their club, such as Diwali and White Day.
Overall, ASA’s activities encourage its club members to do more. For some, taking a leadership position in the club is the right step, as an active senior Justin Liu expresses.
“Hopefully, I’ll get elected as a board director… because I really think I can take a leadership role in this club, because I’d be motivated to help with people.”
