Joining the ranks of the many other student unions and culture clubs at Central Kitsap High School, the Latino Student Union breaks ground in hopes of becoming a well-recognized figure within the student zeitgeist.
At the core of the club is LSU President Arianna Zendejas, who saw the need for a consistent space for representation within CKHS and the Latino community in the area. Following the collapse of LSU the year prior, Zendejas took the lead this year in building the club back up.
“Last year was definitely a setback, but it really just pushed me to do more this time and do better,” Zendejas said. “It’s honestly still kind of hard, getting exposure. I feel like not a lot of people know what we’re doing, but that’s the hardest part, letting people know that we’re here.”
Zendejas’ sentiment is similar to other club members, like Yosselin Escobar, who joined after seeking more connection with fellow Latino students she saw around the school.
“Two years ago, I know during Hispanic Heritage Month I saw nothing about it,” Escobar said. “I heard nothing about it, and I felt very disappointed, not just with the community, but I don’t know, I felt underappreciated, and I wanted to have a voice. And if I can do that while being in the Latino Student Union, then that’s what I want to do.”
Club membership isn’t exclusive to Latino students, as allies and supporters are welcomed with open arms, and all students are encouraged to join. LSU Secretary Alysen Cardano was first involved in CKHS’ Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Club, but joined LSU to help support the union and learn about different cultures.
“I chose secretary because I thought it was just taking notes,” Cardano said. “I was like, ‘Okay, that’s easy,’ and taking attendance, I was like, ‘Okay, I could do that. I’ll support the club the way I can do that.’ So I came up with some ideas, and they’re going into motion.”
Along with Cardano’s plans, Zendejas is also pushing for club interactivity by instructing members on how to make piñatas. The process involves taking newspapers, cutting them into strips, then dipping them into a mix of flour and water, which is then coated onto balloons that act as a base for the piñatas.
“We’re going to use all the piñatas that we’re making right now,” Zendejas said. “Once we’re done making all these, we’re going to fill them with candy and break them. We’re also having a party where we’re going to break a piñata, have some food, play some games, and just have fun.”
As the students assemble their first piñatas, Zendejas aims to continue with more tried and true methods as well. Continuous outreach, like selling horchatas and other snacks at school soccer games, helps to raise funds and increase club awareness within the student body and community.
“I mostly just want to reach out to Latino students,” Zendejas said. “I know that it can feel lonely at this school because there’s not a lot of us, and that’s how I felt until I found LSU, and so that’s kind of what I’m looking to do for other people with this club.”
The Latino Student Union usually meets after school every Wednesday in room 2202; however, their next meeting on December 11 is instead in the school commons for a special celebration. Along with food and drinks, the party will provide an appreciative environment for new members as the club commemorates their achievements from the year.
“As a Latino in the CK community, I feel like we are very underrepresented, and the only way that we can truly get represented how we want to is if Latinos themselves come together,” Escobar said. “In LSU we really can work together to voice that and put that out there to get represented in a way that would be most beneficial for not just me, not just you, but every Latino in the community.”
