By Sophie Yablonski

Entrance to the Middle School’s Flippen Hall. Photo credit: Vlastik Svab.

At Collegiate, the transition from Middle to Upper School is more than moving up a grade. It’s a time when students begin to explore who they are, not just academically, but personally. In the Upper School, we have access to affinity groups like United Sisters and Brothers (USB), PRISM, Latino Student Union (LSU), and Asian Student Union (ASU). These spaces provide connection, community, and celebration of identity. Affinity groups are also becoming a part of the Middle School’s community, ASU being a new addition.

This fall, Dean of Faculty Tung Trinh and Director of Inclusion and Belonging Dr. Antenette Stokes launched the new ASU group in the Middle School, with Trinh stepping in as the faculty sponsor. 

Affinity groups like ASU are for students who share a common identity, and in this case Asian identity. They provide a space to connect, share experiences, and explore culture. They also serve as a place where students can speak freely, make friends, and feel a deeper sense of belonging. As Dr. Stokes put it, “they give students, faculty/staff, and parents the chance to build deeper bonds and real friendships with people who just get it.” Usually membership in these groups are only for people who identify, but some groups, such as Ally groups, allow non-identifying participants who are curious and want to learn more.

One major question that pops up when hearing about the new group is: Why now?

In an interview about the Middle School’s new ASU, Trinh shared that talks about the group started years ago with USB. Currently, the Middle School has its own version of USB, which stemmed from the Upper School group occasionally coming down to talk to the younger students. Trinh said, “that original connection point and mentorship between older and younger students was really meaningful, and from there, it kind of grew into Middle School faculty wanting to do more.” But it wasn’t just the faculty who rooted for the new group’s launch; it was also the students. According to Trinh, when asked about what they would like to see more of in the Middle School during an annual survey, students expressed interest in adding more identifying groups.

The Upper School ASU’s logo. Image credit: Ling Fung-Wu.

For Trinh, ASU is about giving a space for students to be seen. Trinh mentioned that “one of the best things about Middle and Upper School is that you can start to choose where you want to be, and you start spending time with people who share your interests or identity.” As one of only three Asian students at Memorial Middle School in Portland, Maine, Trinh reflected on how different his own experience was. It wasn’t until attending Bowdoin College that he became part of a group that shared his culture. 

The Upper School ASU is led by myself, along with Liam Jones (‘27), Sameer Sharma (‘27), and Aanya Singh (‘27). Trinh and Jones both wished for something like ASU during their Middle School years. Jones said, “thinking back to Middle School, it would have been nice to have a group of other Asians to connect with, and especially during those transformative periods of our lives.” 

While the group is still in the early stages, there is still some information that can currently be guaranteed. Just like in the Upper School, the Middle School ASU is available to students in all four grades and will likely be meeting during recess or lunch. The group is also only planning to have a handful of meetings this year, to let students feel like it is “something they can step into easily, even if they’re already busy,” said Trinh.

When asked about what a successful year would look like, Trinh didn’t point to important events or high attendance. Instead, he emphasized the experience. ASU shouldn’t be a place just to talk about being Asian, or learning about specific cultures; it’s about coming together. Trinh highlighted that, “If we can create a space where students feel safe, meet new friends, and have some fun, that’s a successful first year.”

There is a common misconception about affinity groups and how they work. Some students might think that meetings are all about serious conversations or cultural education, and while those things can happen, that’s not the only focus. Jones commented, “I think sometimes the name ASU can be intimidating for students who have never been a part of an affinity group before, but once I attended my first ASU meeting, I discovered that it’s not intimidating at all. I’ve met so many new friends through our meetings.” Assumptions about these groups are one of the reasons people tend not to join, but the formulation of the new Middle School ASU is trying to dispel some of those assumptions. 

Future plans for the group are still in the works but may include culturally-based events, like Lunar New Year, shared meetings with the Upper School, and student-led projects, including cookbooks and other crafts. While the group might start small, ultimately, the new Middle School ASU is reflecting a larger shift at Collegiate and is helping kickstart the process of student development. 

Featured image credit: Karen Arnold.