By joining a Zoom meeting or sitting in on a webinar, students and teachers spent Scarsdale High School’s 8th annual Global Citizenship Day learning about new cultural perspectives and navigating social issues that affect our world. From incarcerated art to confederate war statues to orientalism, Global Citizenship Day featured events run by both students and teachers, as well as social justice organizations and notable guest speakers.

This year, the focus of Global Citizenship Day was on the Asian-American experience. A webinar featured Sam Mihara, a survivor of the Japanese prison camps during World War II, who talked about his experience. His dynamic presentation and personal stories kept students engaged, and many people learned things they never knew before, giving them a chance to see the world beyond Scarsdale. “I really hadn’t heard much about Japanese internment camps before Mr. Mihara’s presentation,” said Michael Marks ’23. “He gave an incredible presentation that was very informative,” added Marks.

Global Citizenship Day is a unique opportunity in that it allows teachers to focus on topics they normally wouldn’t be able to cover in the curriculum. “[Teachers’] goal as educators is not only to give [students] the best possible education… but also to instill in [them] a sense of civic responsibility,” said art teacher Beth Colleary, who played a large role in organizing the day and delivered presentations involving art and social conscience. In such a fortunate town, it is crucial for students and teachers alike to participate in Global Citizenship Day to better themselves and their community through awareness, advocacy, and action.

Despite the virtual nature, students feel as though they gained a lot of knowledge and awareness through the day’s event. “It was really informative learning about issues surrounding domestic violence and how common it is,” said Ken Zhu ’22. “I think Global Citizenship Day is a really important day, and it should continue for years to come,” he stated.

Following Scarsdale High School’s motto, the Latin phrase “Non Sibi” (which means “not for self”), the goal of Global Citizenship Day is not only to educate students about the world but also to inspire them to help others.