Originally published in print in April 2026. View print issues here.

Whether it’s lucky colors or traditional foods, students note the special place culture holds in their hearts and how it allows them to comfortably express themselves on campus.

World Languages Department Chair Katia Saadé highlights the importance of including every culture and showcasing it with her students.

“I try to celebrate every culture in my classes because I feel it’s very important. As a community, [students] are to be seen and heard,” Saadé said.

According to a Bear Witness Instagram poll, 68% of 73 respondents said they were involved with their culture on campus. One way students can learn more about culture while giving back to the community is by getting involved in the Spanish, French and Korean honor societies, where students of all backgrounds are invited. For instance, sophomore Keyla Sarmiento stays connected with the Hispanic culture on campus through her participation in Spanish Honor Society.

“In the Spanish Honor Society, we talk a lot about events and encourage people to engage in more culture-based events, regardless of where you come from,” Sarmiento said. “Even if you aren’t from Hispanic descent, there’s always something you can learn about the culture that you may not have been born with.”

Not only did the Spanish Honor Society allow Sarmiento to become more open minded in regards to her peers and their stories, but it also helped her gain confidence with self-expression.

“Growing up, I used to be very self-conscious of where I’m from,” Sarmiento said. “Getting over this hurdle of not wanting to engage in a lot of things and engaging in culture-based events, I’ve really gotten the confidence in accepting [who] I am and where I come from. It honestly feels more free to lean into that.”

Honor societies also offer the opportunity for students to visit places and exhibitions in connection with the culture. This year, French Honor Society members visited the Legion of Honor Museum located in San Francisco.

“This year, [students went] to the exhibition for Manet & Morisot to express and know more about what they are studying and show it to the world,” Saadé said.

In addition to honor societies, Branham is home to a variety of student-led clubs that target specific cultures, such as the Jewish Club, which educates people from all backgrounds who are interested. Club President Tamar Maysel helps host monthly meetings alongside her board members to share common traditions, holidays and practices.

“It’s very rewarding [and] fun. You’ve grown up with your whole life — all these traditions and histories — and you get to share them with other people, especially on campus, who aren’t Jewish,” Maysel said.

Branham’s annual Multicultural Banquet invites all cultural clubs and students to showcase their backgrounds through booths, performances and a potluck. The World Language Department, including Saadé, uses the event as a way to unite the community. Students are welcome to bring foods from their cultures and invite their friends alongside them.

“It brings me such pride,” Saadé said. “I’m so proud of every single person — all their cultures [and] their traditions. I’m proud of the time they put in after school, so they can practice and show off what they’re doing.”

Sarmiento mentions how being surrounded by others equally excited about embracing their culture creates and fosters a welcoming atmosphere for students to express themselves freely.

“That’s one of the biggest things of Hispanic and Latino cultures,” Sarmiento said. “They treat everybody as family, regardless of who you are, what you did or where you come from. That’s really good [when] connecting [with] people.”

Students may also face fear of backlash and negative comments when embracing their culture. Maysel and her board members must consider potential backlash, preventing them from hosting bigger cultural events for the Jewish Club.

“I’ve definitely faced a lot of antisemitism in my life,” Maysel said. “Whenever we want to host school events, we always hear, ‘No one’s going to come.’ People are going to say things about it.”

For International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27, the Jewish club hosted a memorial by setting up flags on campus, yet they were cautious about possible hostility towards the event.

“Doing the Holocaust memorial was super difficult because we were worried people were going to step on it [or] take down the flags,” Maysel said.

Alongside the Jewish club, this dilemma applies to other students worried about their expression. Hence, Madame Saadé is determined to create a safe environment for students to be who they are without the concern of people’s criticism. She does so by continuing her mission to give everyone the deserved opportunity to be themselves.

“My goal is for everyone at Branham High School to be proud and open about who they are and be able to express it,” Saadé said. “That’s why we are such a wonderful school.”

Illustration by Irene Yoon/Special to Bear Witness