Imagine a world where no student feels strange, where everyone welcomes the values and traditions of another culture. Students of Cultural Association (SOCA) is an affinity club dedicated to celebrating diversity around the school. Since October of 2024, the club presidents, Ellie Odegi and Tiffany Marescot, have made it their mission to help embrace and accept every culture that makes Byram students unique. After learning that this club previously existed but was abandoned when its leaders left, Tiffany and Ellie took it upon themselves to restore it. As someone who has been to these compelling meetings, sophomore Kira Rosen describes SOCA as, “A fun club to learn more about culture!” 

Each of these meetings is intended to celebrate a certain month including Pacific Islander Heritage Month, with various games and foods to try from that culture. The purpose of this club is to celebrate everyone with different backgrounds, enabling students to feel accepted in our community with no judgment. This club undoubtedly paves a path to shaping a better world, one meeting at a time. 

Interviewing the club president, Ellie Odegi, has brought many insights into the type of world she wants to build. “We wanted to celebrate everyone’s culture so people never feel ashamed of themselves,” stated Ellie, who saw a need and wanted to bring a new idea to our school. She and Tiffany recognized the lack of a club with cultural diversity and decided that they wanted to make an impact, thus bringing forward SOCA. This club, with its grit and passion, hopes to create a more accepting experience at school and bring everyone together, sculpting the world to become a better place.

When asked about the future goals for her club, Ellie revealed the next couple of things she has planned including an international day at school, community service and volunteering opportunities, and having a night where members have traditional food together. She, alongside Tiffany, intends to have consistent meetings monthly to eventually carry out a major event with other schools on the track along with many different food trucks. Additionally, they plan to do community service for organizations that are dedicated to fighting for equality among all races and minorities.

Overall, SOCA is a remarkable, supportive club with a wholesome community that welcomes everyone with open arms. It is low commitment compared to other clubs and only requires members to show up to their meetings, which are only once a month and last about 20 minutes. Its mission is to make everyone feel safe whilst creating a fun learning environment. As someone who has been to one of these meetings along with many of my friends, it has been a really enjoyable and safe experience where judgment doesn’t exist. Ellie and Tiffany want to help other students talk about their struggles as someone of a certain race or culture. The club members accept everyone’s backgrounds and attempt to relate to one another’s experiences. Embrace diversity today by emailing odegie27@byramhills.net!

On Monday, April 8th, millions of people paused their daily activities to watch the moon cover the sun, the Armonk community included. For the first time since 1925, New Yorkers had the opportunity to watch a solar eclipse in their own home state. While preparations for the eclipse were in place for the high school, the Astronomy Club and High School Science Ambassadors (HSSA) sought to include younger students in the festivities. 

In the weeks leading up to the eclipse, students from both clubs, with help from Byram’s science department, prepared a presentation for students at Coman Hill. On the Friday before the eclipse, over 20 students went to the elementary school, eager to explain the importance of this event to the 2nd graders. The event was special for members of both clubs. Casey Goldstein said that “it was a very engaging and wholesome experience. It was fun to see the 2nd graders so involved and excited about the eclipse.” Other club members shared similar sentiments and even saw some of the same 2nd-graders at the high school on eclipse day!

When April 8th finally rolled around, students, teachers, and families alike all gathered at the high school to watch the eclipse unfold. Thanks to the Astronomy Club, food trucks, art stations, and music all helped make the event feel like a true celebration. The school also generously purchased solar eclipse glasses to ensure that all students could safely enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime scene. Astronomy Club president Sabrina Sawhny said that “planning this event was definitely a process. We had no idea what the turnout would be, but it ended up being a great time!” True to Sabrina’s word, many students had fun watching the eclipse! Addie Freeman, a junior at Byram Hills, said that she “was very impressed by the Byram Hills’ science department for putting together such an amazing event. I feel that it really enhanced my viewing experience.” 

Though we may sometimes get caught up in the daily routine of our lives, it’s always important to take a moment to appreciate the beautiful and awe-inspiring parts of our world, especially on rare occasions. For a few minutes, the solar eclipse brought our community together as we all stared at the same mesmerizing sight, watching the sky dim as the moon slowly moved over the sun. Let the solar eclipse remind you that space and nature can truly be magical. Get excited for 2044, the next time there will be an eclipse in the US!