Asian Pacific American Heritage Month | Student Spotlight with Saumya Khanna ’22
Saumya Khanna ’22 has earned her BS in Biology and is part of the Southern Asian Society Social Club on campus. This year, The South Asian Society received the honor of Student Organization of the Year. Khanna shares what AAPI Heritage Month means to her, and how the community can provide greater support.
What are the difficulties and triumphs you've faced being API?
I'm sorry to say that there are a lot more difficulties in being a member of the AAPI community than triumphs. The first of which is that the majority of white society doesn't deem me as "Asian." The phrase, "You're not Asian, you're Indian" is thrown around so much, not just on the SMC campus but in the outside world as well. To everyone else, I'm something that doesn't correlate with the AAPI community because I'm not outwardly "Asian" when in reality, Asian means a whole variety of things and can't be represented within one assumption that everyone else holds. That being said, the triumphs of being Asian outweigh the difficulties I encounter. I'm able to be submerged in a whole different world when I'm with my culture. It's beautiful and colorful and the AAPI community and the cultures it houses are what make our world just a little bit brighter.
In your opinion, how can the greater community at SMC better support AAPI students, faculty and staff?
Listen to us. Come to our events. Actually, put your words to use and support us. Everyone's quick to appropriate our cultures and choose what suits them most, but when it comes down to it, you all go to a basketball game instead of coming to our events. I know, it's fun... and the energy is amazing. But what you fail to realize is that you can gain the same experiences, if not better ones by coming to our events. I think people see the word "Asian" or see a place filled with BIPOC and won't enter because they're scared for some reason. Next time you walk by the Intercultural Center and see an event, or if you see a poster for something being put on by AAPI groups on campus, stop and come in. Listen to what we're saying, what we're celebrating, and join us. It's better for us to work together rather than having us be pushed to the side and ignored because you don't want to attempt to understand why we do what we do.
What is your favorite cultural tradition?
It's extremely hard to choose one. There are so many holidays celebrated but if I really had to choose, I'd narrow it down to South Asian weddings and to Diwali. It's not only the love that surrounds me at weddings, but the beauty of the outfit, the energy from our family, and the incredible party that occurs throughout the days. Diwali is always an important holiday near my heart as well. It's celebrated throughout South Asia and is known as the festival of lights. We get to celebrate by throwing different firecrackers on the ground and lighting up the night sky.
Why is it important to you that we celebrate APAHM?
It's not a secret that we live in a society that favors the white majority. By supporting AAPI voices and amplifying us, you're giving us a platform to be heard and understood. It's a way for us to be highlighted and appreciated for not only what we do but for the cultures and countries, we stand for.
Learn more the SMC Intercultural Center, which helps foster a safe and supportive learning environment that values diversity and builds inclusive community.