Sammie Cohen, Diversity Inclusion and Equity Editor
Sammie is a staff writer for the Pitch this year. This is her first year on staff and she is very excited! At WJ, Sammie is the co-president of Best Buddies, the secretary of NHS, and captain of the Girls Varsity Tennis Team!
![The AASU joined together to honor the popular Asian holiday, White Day, through an origami flower sale held March 13-17 in front of both the main office and the cafeteria. “White Day is a holiday celebrated in Asian countries (Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Taiwan) where people reciprocate gifts to those who gave them something on Valentines Day. Thats why it occurs March 14th, a month after Valentines [Day]. White gifts such as marshmallows, white chocolate, white flowers, etc. are usually the popular gifts, AASU President and junior Ziqing Chu said.](https://www.wjpitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ybSavMND2AkrvLPXGaOdYMS1YsCLldwmRbaoq187-675x900.jpg)
![On Wednesday, Feb.8, the Asian American Student Union (AASU) held a Lunar New Year celebration during lunch in the Student Commons. “I hope that [the students] learned more about East Asian culture and Lunar New Year because I think that Lunar New Year isn’t as popular in America, it’s not really a big holiday on the calendar either. So, I just hope they learned about it and maybe celebrate themselves if they want,” freshman Anna Jhon said.](https://www.wjpitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/urPjIx6qCvn4NpGiT5I5aWMSZXF8kwZi0MqdlEkw-900x507.jpg)
![Students from International Club create a mural on the white board for all the things they are thankful for. For students who have just moved to the US, like sophomore Camila Hernandez, this event has shown them what the holiday is all about. “I’m from Colombia; it’s my first Thanksgiving. [This event] makes me know how they celebrate because I dont know anything about [Thanksgiving],” Hernandez said.](https://www.wjpitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ay8aIPg4q4HjKitkSMn2MaQgXGSp72NDqWgbnl7O-900x507.jpg)
![“I think it’s not [lame]. You get to have fun with your friends, plus my birthday is after so I get a lot of free candies.”
–Michelle Munkh-Erdene, 9](https://www.wjpitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/POuKxfcUWLUjrEJNSM2b3WV5t2poejQMwZjiYKxX-e1667232416840-675x900.jpg)
