Despite Westford Academy's relatively diverse student body and several cultural clubs like the South Asian Student Association (SASA) and the Asian Culture Club (ACC), it can be hard for second-generation immigrants to find ways to connect with their culture. As the daughter of first-generation immigrants...

The feeling of belonging -- whether it be while sharing a laugh with friends or connecting with people over shared cultural experiences -- is a vital part of one's happiness and well-being at school. For some WA students, however, finding a community where they can truly express all aspects of their...

Within thirty minutes of WA’s first ever Salsa Band meeting, trumpets are playing, drumsticks are moving, and even cow bells are ringing. A catchy, upbeat rhythm echoes throughout the band room and nearly 15 students tap their feet as they read the music on their stands. While it may not be perfect...

The WA South Asian Student Association (SASA) will be hosting their second-ever annual Darba celebration on Friday, Nov. 17 from 6-10 p.m. Darba, an event that combines Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, and garba dancing, will include refreshments and feature a variety of South Asian traditions,...

Learning a new language in school is tough, to say the least. Whether it be the grammar behind complex sentence structures, or remembering the gender of nouns, there always seems to be something new to build upon. With this in mind, it is no wonder that foreign language students often find themselves...

The rhythm of drums carries through the room and two lions appear, one golden, the other red. Swiftly, they make their way around the tables of dining people, playfully sticking their noses into their food and dropping oranges in their path, a symbol of good luck and prosperity for the year ahead. The...

When navigating life in a melting pot such as the US, it can be difficult for students to feel culturally understood, to feel truly comfortable embracing the rich customs that come along with their unique identity. Nonetheless, celebrating these differences is vital towards building a welcoming and inclusive...

Netflix released a new animated movie titled Over the Moon on October 23. Filled with touching stories about love and family, Over the Moon definitely is worth the watch. Some aspects of the movie proved to be incorrect culturally, but other points were extremely accurate and pinpoint key aspects of...

For centuries, our society has used stereotyping to define people, their backgrounds, and their cultures. Hiding behind highly broadcasted forms of racial stigma, stereotyping has plagued all races and pushed them into tight corners where pressure and prejudice silently lurk. In Netflix's new show Indian...

[See a photo gallery of the event here.] On February 2 from 4:30 to 7:00 PM, the Asian Culture Club hosted their third annual Lunar New Year Festival to commemorate the Year of the Pig. The event was a major effort pulled from students, parents, teachers, and sponsors alike. Primarily in charge...

Similar to the perspectives of senior parents, described in this article, several seniors at Westford Academy relate their homework stress more closely to WA's environment than to their own culture.  

Whether students at WA or in the United States in general are children of immigrants, first generation families to the U.S., or have lived here for generations, they face an immense pressure to succeed.  At WA, this pressure comes in the form of many extracurriculars, part-time jobs, and homework. ...