There are so many different cultures in the world and everybody has their own culture that they embrace, that is the opportunity that Monte Vista’s Persian Club has to offer.

    The Persian Club was new to Monte Vista this year and it made its presence known since the club fair as Persian music blasted through speakers and a group of dancing students crowded around the club’s table. They wished to send a message to students: those that  signed up for the club would have a good time.

    The founder of the club is Monte Vista’s Junior Class President, Sepehr Khosravi and the Vice President is Monte Vista junior Silas Askarbiuki Moa.

    “I wanted to create an organization that would allow people, regardless if they were Persian or not, to come together and enjoy themselves regardless of the activity in the vastness of the Persian spirit,” Moa said.

The club has hosted multiple engaging activities this year that help support Persian culture,  such as hosting soccer games at the horseshoe during lunch, watching documentaries about Iran in the theater, and even indulging in laughter through some Persian. However, Moa has big plans for the club next year.

    “Now I must admit that this year wasn’t as productive as I was hoping, but I can promise a more exciting and involved year for the Persian Club next year,” Moa said. “I would like to continue the friendly environment which we create when people come together…[It]empowers them to have a great time, but I would really love to indulge the club into the more cultural aspect which the Persian culture has to offer such as, playing traditional Persian games, teaching the club members basic Farsi, Feast – in which we eat Persian food in a traditional Persian gathering, teaching customs, and, for sure, teaching the people how to make Persian tea.”

    A lot of these ideas seem to be just for fun, but they are also educational. The education aspect is an essential part of the goal of the club, according to Moa.

    “The main goal is for people to leave a lot smarter, a lot happier, and a lot more educated and grateful by providing a respectful, fun environment through the Persian spirit,” Moa said. “I want Persians to be proud of their heritage and I want to leave non-Persians with the realization and appreciation of the rich culture. As well, it would inspire those of other heritages and backgrounds to not be so shy and take the initiative to share their cultures.”

    Moa attended De Anza High School before coming to Monte Vista. His time at De Anza allowed him to make plans for what to do when he had an opportunity like this one.

    “I’d go to various clubs and see how they ran their show,” Moa said. “At my old school, the clubs didn’t have many activities, but when they did everyone had a great spirit. There was so much participation and laughter.”

    One of the priorities is to make the activities for the club fun; however there is still a bigger point for the members of the club to realize: embracing one’s own culture. That is an important aspect to Moa.

    “It is of the utmost importance,” Moa said. “This world is like a food dish, regardless of the meal, its flavor resigns in the various ingredients that make it up. Each culture compliments the other in its own unique and irreplaceable way. And when a culture dies or someone holds back from expressing themselves, the rest of the world loses the opportunity of enjoying the taste of its greatness. Our dish is made up of all the cultures in the world and it becomes slightly bland with each generation when customs and traditions aren’t shared, when the language isn’t taught, and when people forget in depth where they truly come from.”

    One thing that people have in common is that they want people to accept them for who they are. The Persian Club offers that with the respectful spirit it has embraced this year. It offers students the ability to not only learn about another culture, but to celebrate their own and be proud of it rather hide it from their peers.

    At the end of the day it is diversity that gives the world its so called “flavor” because when everyone accepts the things that makes them unique, it makes the world full of special aspects. The world is not meant for everything to be the uniform or else it has not uniqueness.

    This essentially is the message that this club is trying to send. Embracing young students of this generation to embrace their cultures and be proud of them. To give this world -this “dish” –  more flavor. That is why a big part of this club for Khosravi is to add “tang”by spreading knowledge of Persian Culture.

    “I created the Persian Club to spread the rich and beautiful Persian culture throughout Monte Vista,” Khosravi said. “Iran is the oldest and one of the most beautiful countries in the world.”

    Educating the club members on Persian culture is one of the basic goals of this club so that people can gain more knowledge of Persian customs.

    “The first Persian king wrote the Human Rights in 500 B.C.E. and it is still used in the United Nations today,” Khosravi said. “Iran was built on dignity, wealth, and happiness. The Persian Club plays a vital role in not only teaching the Persian culture to it’s members, but this club opens the door to a new world that is not talked about in recent times. People learn about the persians and their customs because they see how fun and interesting it is. People can begin to embrace their own culture with the Persian Culture.”

    Students don’t have to commemorate these varieties of cultures alone. Through the club, they are able to embrace their culture with their peers while learning about another culture: the Persian Culture.

    The club is a way for students at Monte Vista that are Persian to celebrate the rich culture. They can support their culture in this club because of the respectable and fun environment the club creates. Meeting other students in the club, whether they are Persian or not, is a gateway to learn about not only the Persian Culture, but all the varying cultures of Monte Vista students as a collective group.

    “This is why I truly made the Persian Club,” Khosravi said, “I wanted to show my true identity as a Persian man.”