Left to right: ASB Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leaders Bellina Tricarico (10) and Amelia Mazo (10) pose in front of an advertisement for the school's ongoing We Are TP Week. This week, students had the opportunity to take part in a school-wide Kahoot, scavenger hunt, conversation with district officers and participate in the Diversity Fair. Photo courtesy of Bellina Tricarico.
This week is the school’s annual We Are TP Week, known in years past as Diversity Week. In collaboration with Associated Student Body and English 9 teacher Jennifer Ryan, Peer Assistance Leaders, administrative staff and outside organizations, ASB Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leaders Amelia Mazo (10) and Bellina Tricarico (10) planned and are leading a week of activities promoting justice and inclusivity on campus.
Each day throughout the week presents one activity: a first period Kahoot challenge on Monday; a fourth period poster scavenger hunt on Tuesday; Student Connection time with the ASB team, district superintendent Anne Staffieri and director of the One San Dieguito Initiative Anwar Shareef on Wednesday; a club fair in the quad at lunch on Thursday; and a mariachi band performance at lunch and during fifth period (sign-ups required) on Friday.
Both Mazo and Tricarico reflected on what they believe makes We Are TP Week so important to the school, and how exactly they have evolved the tradition over time:
What does We Are TP Week mean to you personally?
Tricarico: “It’s a great way to showcase all the different groups of people we have at this school. It’s just a beautiful thing that we all get to recognize our differences and come together as one to see that we are all TP, even though we come from different places.”
Mazo: “We Are TP Week to me just means bringing everybody together to realize what we offer in this school and how diverse we really are.”
How do you feel about this year’s We Are TP Week? What are you most excited about?
Tricarico: “I’m definitely excited about the club fair on Thursday. That’s the main event where we’re all going to see the different groups represented in the clubs. It’s going to be a really great time.”
Mazo: “I am really excited about the new event we’re doing this year, which is the interview with the superintendent. We also had to change Diversity Week to We Are TP Week because [the new name] includes everybody, not just specific subgroups. We Are TP Week celebrates everyone, regardless of where they come from, which is cool.”
In your opinion, how has We Are TP Week evolved since last year?
Tricarico: “This year we’re definitely just working a lot more to get the information heard. I definitely think that’s more than what happened last year. Every year, we just try to make it bigger and more recognized around the school and just get a lot of attention to it.”
Mazo: “I feel like the key factor to this event is in advertising, especially when it’s not something as big as a football game. This year, [Bellina and I] are also really passionate about making the week meaningful and representative of all students, which definitely shows.”
What do you hope students take away from this year’s We Are TP Week?
Tricarico: “The main message would just be to understand that even though we’re all from different backgrounds, and we all maybe are culturally different, we all come together and we are all TP.”
Mazo: “I think it’s definitely realizing that you can meet others and be represented in the school where we hear your voices. We want it to be out there and this event gives the ability for students to show who they are. If they ever want to participate, there’s an opportunity.”
How do you think We Are TP Week impacts the culture or community on campus?
Tricarico: “Students knowing their voices are heard at school and knowing that they’re recognized fosters a sense of confidence in them and within our community. They are able to feel more pride in themselves and are more encouraged to feel that connection with people wherever they go.”
Mazo: “This event definitely makes our community and culture more diverse because we don’t realize so many people are from different backgrounds … you get to know more people and hear the struggles they’ve been through or what makes them unique and who they are.”