Reagan Bouchard

Explore as many cultures as you can!

It dawned on me one day that culture is powerful. 

When I was 13, I had a trip to Uganda, Africa, for a month. One day, my grandmother’s security guard took me with him to buy food. On this trip, he took a detour on the way back to eat with his friends. Keep in mind, it was already dark out at this time. 

We were on a motorcycle, so my first thought was that I was going to die, until we got there. These people I’ve never met were not only kind to me, but they gave me food and drinks, too. I wouldn’t say they were the richest of folks, but they still treated me like one of their own. After a meal of food that at first, I was not too receptive to, I realized the power culture has and how beautiful it can be when you leave your bubble.  

February is a great time to represent or show love to other cultures. After learning more, I found the word diversity is now viewed in a negative connotation by some individuals. A word created to describe the differences between us as people was never meant to divide us, at least not to my understanding. 

As a son of an immigrant and minority, I’ve explored my fair share of cultures. My life has been diverse from birth, and I have been raised in predominantly white neighborhoods. Well, to be more exact, in Irish, Jewish, Turkish, and Italian neighborhoods.

Then I went to Boston on my dad’s side of the family and explored black neighborhoods with Haitians and African Americans. There, I would get entrenched in music and food. I’ve even spent whole months in Uganda, Africa, with my mom’s side of the family, learning more about hospitality and community.

The point is that diversity and the exploration of culture have never harmed me. Instead, it has opened my eyes to a world full of different cultures and ideas that deserve to be celebrated. While I know we all can’t travel the world, what we all can do is connect with our fellow classmates and peers. 

When looking at Oakmont culture, the best place to start is by asking people. It’s easy to assume by looking at someone where they fall, but more often than not, this can be far from the truth. 

Oakmont students were asked the following questions: What’s your cultural background? Were you raised strongly within this culture, or did you reconnect with it later? What foods, music, art, or clothing are culturally significant?

Upperclassman Sam Kender answered, describing their cultural background as Puerto Rican, Native American, and African American. Sam claimed she wanted to reconnect with her culture when given the time, and loves her food with excess spices.

This surprised me because I never imagined that I would meet anyone who was Native American, let alone in Oakmont. Nor did I imagine that she was something other than African American, proving I, too, was a victim of bias.

Another person I interviewed was Lauren Bagley, who is an Irish Catholic. She was strongly raised in her culture and represents it openly. Major holidays for her culture include traditions such as Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day. The main food or dish in her culture is potatoes. She said it was “The heart of every dish.” 

Interestingly, another person who resonated with being Catholic was Genesis Cruz Torres. In our short interview, she stated she was Puerto Rican. Over in Puerto Rico, they celebrate Catholic traditions, such as Christmas, heavily with much fervor and excitement. 

When discussing food, junior Yasmin Castro shared that her family is always making cultural dishes, and every week is like Thanksgiving. 

These are all nice, but it leaves a major question: Why is diversity important? 

In 2026, a time of constant political discourse and the constant looming immigration question, it is more important than ever to remind people of the importance of cultural diversity. Differences in culture should not be what divides people, but should be what unites them. 

All too often, diversity is brought up with negative connotations attached. People might be thinking their lives or culture are downplayed because they are not as massive as the lives or culture of other people. In actuality, diversity and cultural differences can be shared, leading to a better life experience and enjoyment. 

The 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, headlining Bad Bunny, showed this. Two days prior to the game, the main consensus online was that the difference in language had made people feel disheartened. 

Some people thought he should’ve performed in English since most people in America speak English. They deprived themselves of enjoying his music and performance just because they didn’t know the language. They effectively became the main reasons behind their own unhappiness.

Culture should not prevent you from enjoying the world. When I was told about the different cultures of my classmates, I realized that, to some extent, I could never understand my fellow classmates completely. I wouldn’t understand their world views because I’ve never experienced anything from their culture. The only way to understand people and live life to the fullest is to experience other forms of culture and calibrate them accordingly.

Overall, culture is something that is differently experienced by everyone, and everyone has their own claim to the meaning of the word. However, in my personal opinion, the only way forward is to have the best possible time in life. Go out and explore separate cultures, and don’t stop them from the bubble of normality that is our lives. 

A quote from Anthony Bourdain that encapsulates this point is “You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together.” No matter what occurs in life, the best way forward is often uncomfortable.

In truth, improving connections between cultures is not easy or simple. It’s a task that is uncomfortable and takes time, but the best place to start is here in high school. So ask about your own culture this month or your friends, and make sure you learn something new and remember it. There is no better culture than Oakmont culture.