By Alu Machinjili, Staff Writer
On January 28, 2025, River Hills National Chinese Honor Society hosted a dumpling celebration in room 151. This event was not merely a culinary gathering, but also a celebration of cultural heritage highlighting the significance of dumplings in Chinese tradition. It attracted food lovers from all over the school. This event served as a place for students in River Hill and the whole county to connect with and bond with their communities
Throughout this event, students had a hands-on experience of making dumplings, which added to the interactive element of the event. Students had the opportunity to choose from a variety of different fillings such as pork, beef, seafood, and vegetation openings. This allowed students to choose to customize their dumplings to their tastes and preferences. Senior Austin Zhang stated.”
The process of making dumplings brought together teamwork and collaboration. Students worked side by side sharing tips and techniques with each other. Senior Gary Peng stated, “I was working on my dumplings with my friends. We all had different fillings inside our dumplings.” Students were comparing with each other and trying to make the best dumplings possible.
This further brought together the club’s community spirit. The feedback from the participants of the event highlighted the positive impact of the dumpling celebration. Senior Austin Zhang expressed his enjoyment, saying “This event was very fun, and talking to others was great.” Similarly, Senior Gary Peng noted, ”It was nice hanging out with other people in the group.” These reflections show the importance of the cultural meaning of this event and it promoted social interaction between the students.
Beyond the social interaction, this event served as a valuable learning experience for the students. Students learned about the different types of fillings and processes to create dumplings. Students were able to customize their dumplings and make them unique from the other students. Senior Austin Zhang said his dumpling was full of “vegetables and this gave an educational opportunity to the students.”
The event stands as a model for future events that promote community bonding within the school. The event’s success demonstrates the power of combining cultural tradition with hands-on activity and social interaction at school to create an impactful experience. By prioritizing teamwork and practical elements, the club came up with an engaging event that celebrated Chinese culture and at the same time strengthened the bonds within the school community. Senior Gary Peng stated, “ Even though I knew most people, it was still cool talking to the other guys I don’t usually speak to.”
Overall, this dumpling event proved to be a successful and impactful event. It not only brought an enjoyable experience for students but it proved a valuable educational opportunity allowing students from all over the county to learn about Chinese traditions in an engaging way.