Dalat International School launched its first ever "Celebrating Differences, Embracing Uniqueness Week" last week, a schoolwide initiative designed to highlight diversity and encourage students to embrace the qualities that make each other unique. Celebrating Differences means to honor and appreciate what makes each person special, whether it is where they are from or how they see the world. Embracing Uniqueness means accepting one another unconditionally, recognizing that God created each of us uniquely and with equal value.
The week centered around the verse Psalms 139:13-14, which says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” The verse was chosen to remind the community that God created each person with care and a plan, making everyone unique and worth celebrating.
Ms. Muvumba, the director of student services, said in the Dalat news for that week, that “Our school is a microcosm of global society, and by celebrating each unique individual, we enrich every student’s journey.” This idea was shown through the activities of the week as students of all ages participated in activities or discussions that highlighted the diversity within the Dalat community. The culmination of all these activities and discussion was in chapel. In the elementary division, they saw teachers act out a skit on stage discouraging bullying and encouraging being kind and respectful to each other. In the middle school, there was a panel of high school students that talked about their experiences.
Aydan Wong a senior, was one of those panelists, and he said, “We talked about our experiences being different from others, and how being different wasn't always a bad thing - in fact, a lot of the time people are made stronger by their differences! For example, I talked about how the way I see the world helps me break down things into simple concepts for others.”
In high school chapel, there was a similar panel but instead of other high school students, it was staff members who shared there stories and experiences more specifically about how they are different and how that has benefitted them in life.
"Celebrating Differences and Embracing Uniqueness Week" reminded the Dalat community that every person is fearfully and wonderfully made, with different gifts and traits worth celebrating. Through the activities, discussions, and chapels students saw were exposed to the diversity and uniqueness in our student body. Moving forward, the Dalat community will seek to continue in building a culture where respect and kindness are foundational to every interaction. As the week showed, God made everyone worth celebrating and worthy of respect.
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