If there’s one thing I’ve learned this semester that has stuck with me, it’s that we as humans have a variety of ways to define ourselves. Most of us are quick to define ourselves as students, athletes, etc. because that is what we’ve been for most of our lives. There’s one specific phrase that defined me for a large majority of my developing years that I often forget to acknowledge. For about 11 years of my life, I was a folk dancer. As I've grown a bit older, I now realize just how important the experience was to my life and my family.
Back at home, I attended a school with a very culturally diverse community. Many of my peers were quite involved in their ethnic backgrounds, mainly through folk dancing within Hispanic, Irish, and Polish cultures. Most of them participated in school talent shows or showcases and even attended other schools once a week that were specific to their culture. I grew up with a similar experience, involved in what is known as Kindergruppe. This is a children's group, formed in 1968, that is a part of a bigger club as a whole called The American Aid Society of German Descendants.
American Aid Society came to existence during an extremely difficult time after World War II. The German community in Chicago formed this organization to support their sons who fought as American soldiers in the war. The organization served to preserve the culture, and the money raised by the events and dance groups was used to the aid of the expellees. It helped relieve the hunger of expelled country men and those who made it to refugee camps. Present day, the club strives to keep the heritage and history of the culture alive.
Starting at the age of three, I attended this club once a week with my brother, and became more accustomed to our German background. We accomplished this through practicing folk dances to put on during performances, as well as learning songs to sing in the language. During holiday seasons we also memorized lines to put on plays in German. We were given opportunities to travel for performances and to join together with other German cultural groups as well.
While I enjoyed my time growing up in the group and becoming closer with families who shared the same background, I decided to quit the group when I was 14. Looking back at that decision, I do feel some regret in it. I cut short a huge opportunity that connected me to my family and our historical background. I missed out on opportunities to travel to different countries to spread our cause as well. My family, including my Oma (grandmother), Dad, aunts, uncles, and cousins (all on my Dad's side) have all been and are involved in this group from a few years to several decades.
The biggest point I'd like to make about this experience is that it's important to not only be aware of your ethnic culture and background but to also do everything in your power to incorporate it in your life if it's something you wish to be connected with. A majority of us are quick to define ourselves as students, athletes, artists, etc., but a lot of us define ourselves by our ethnicities as well. We spend so much time learning about the history about absolutely everything else in school, so it's definitely worthwhile to take the time to learn a bit more about your own family history as well and become involved.
