This year, I honestly wasn’t sure what student organization to join. I really enjoyed my time in OU Cousins last year, but I wasn’t able to attend any of the matching events, and so I figured it was a good opportunity to try something new. I decided to learn more about the Honor’s Cultural Council, an organization within the Honor’s College. 

The mission of the Honor’s Cultural Council is to create a welcoming community within the Honor’s College and promote cultural awareness. They host a lot of events, including speaker panels, movie nights, and other parties like Valentine’s Day festivities. By far their most famous event is the International Food Night. This year, over 150 people and multiple student organizations attended and multiple student organizations. Most of the attendees were freshmen, but a fair amount of international upperclassmen attended as well. 

One of my friends inspired me to join the organization. When asked about her reasoning for joining, she explained that the club was so active that she knew it was a great way to be involved. She also mentioned something that I thought was really great–interacting with people different than her. That really is the whole point of college isn’t it? You come to a new place and are surrounded by so many people, all there to learn and grow. This makes it a prime environment for gaining new experiences and making new friends. 

Organizations like the Honors Cultural Council inspire students to gather together and share their traditions, culture, and experiences. By highlighting differences through sharing cultural experiences, they bridge gaps. I can’t wait to get more involved with this organization during the rest of my time here.