Members of the Asian group at PCYC Lyndale enjoy a meal together.

Students Learn About Culture, Discuss Issues in Asian Group

By Tina Xayavongsa

The Asian group is a group of students who want to get together to learn more about each other’s background, cultures, and communities.

The Asian group was started by Xee Moua.  She has worked for PYC-Lyndale for three years, and in her second year she started the Asian group.

She said she started the group because “there were more Asian students attending PYC, so I wanted them to get to know each other better and to bring them together.  They had no time throughout the day, so I set a time in the day for all of them to sit down and talk together about their history and their unique culture.”

Last year the group met during the day time; this year it met after school because the students wanted credit for going to the groups.

Moua feels that she has reached her goal of bringing the students together as one. She hopes that next year will be as successful as the groups have been in the last few years. 

“I wanted it to be a learning experience – for them to stick together and learn from each other and to build peace,” she said.

Also this year Xee’s sister Nou Moua joined Xee in helping coordinate the Asian group.

“It’s a great way for all of the Asian students to get together to talk and discuss issues that are going on in their communities and in the world,” Nou said.  “They don’t have time to do it on their own, so we talk about it here.”

Nou loves working with the students. She thinks they’re great.  She also enjoys working with her sister.

Lyndale student Billy Vang enjoys attending Asian group.  He joined because he wanted to learn more about his peers and earn credit on the way.  He thinks Asian group should have more activities.

This is Billy’s last year at PYC.  He will be attending a Minneapolis Public School , and he cannot attend Asian group next year.  However, if he were to come back to PYC he would join Asian group again. “I can learn a lot about my culture and my peers,” he said.

Yer Moua joined Asian group because she thought it was a good opportunity for students to get to know one another.  She has been in Asian group for two years now, and she has learned similar things and different things in Asian people.

“It’s fun,” Yer said.  “It’s a good thing to find out about what you don’t know and what you can find out.”

Blong Xiong joined the Asian group because it sounded like fun, and Xee asked him to.  He wouldn’t change anything about Asian group next year.

“I like to learn about my culture and interact with the community,” Blong said.

“Syamphone Daoheoang expected to learn about different cultures and the communities, and she got that.  She wishes Asian group would have more activities; she likes the teachers and students.  She is going to join again next year.

“It’s a very educational experience and I wish more people would join,” Syamaphone said.