Dashes of saffron, violet, fern green, steel blue and fiery red make their signatures on a moon-shaped canvas. A badminton shuttlecock flies through the air. An electric guitar electrifies the atmosphere. Yuzu citrus does a tango on your tastebuds. You refresh with a perfectly poached prawn wonton and cross your fingers for luck in anticipation of your top pick from the raffle prizes. These notes combined to create the experience at the Harmony Gala, a memory-making night composed and orchestrated by AIHM’s exceptional students!
On the evening just before AIHM’s half-term break, the student-designed and hosted Harmony Gala celebrated our community’s diverse backgrounds, identities, talents and interests. As Head of Student Engagement, I was delighted to support the amazing students in this initiative and to attend, enjoying the festivities with them and entire AIHM team. I’d like to share more about this special event below for the eyes and ears of anyone who’s thinking about joining the AIHM community or who wants a window into life in and around our campus.
Why a Harmony Gala?
A core value of AIHM is inclusion. In our community, ALL people are valued. Yes, we are each different, and that is to be celebrated! We have 15 distinctive nationalities on campus at the moment with an expected 19 by September 2024…so our community is uniquely beautiful and a cultural tapestry. In fact, a number of our students chose to wear their traditional dress to the Harmony Gala. From the elegantly embroidered Maldivian libaas dress adorned with a gold-coin necklace, to a variety of Southeast Asian wrap-skirts, to students’ favourite casual outfits—attendees expressed their own individualities.
The sharing and admiring of diversity on our campus brings a rich experience to all students. Wherever they are from, we strive to give them the tools to spread their wings and see as many parts of the world as they desire—whether through internships while at AIHM, employment or whatever paths they chart in life. Living, studying and enjoying life together was this event’s focus.
Inspiration Behind the Harmony Gala
As a through-note behind the Enrichment and Tutorial activities over the initial half of this semester, the focus has been inclusion, celebrating diversity and creating a cohesive student body. We’re preparing students for globalised careers in a globalised world. They’re beginning their young adult lives in a world that, in many ways, their generation is shaping with their own values. Inclusion and diversity tend to be close to their hearts and at the top of their minds. Therefore, we lean into these values in our enrichment efforts. These core values are central to the future they’re helping to create and the futures for which we’re helping them prepare.
Every week all students attend their choice of enrichment activity: culinary creativity in the Kitchen Crew, sporting fun in Badminton Baseline, the flavour shake-ups in Mixology, music and dance in AIHM Tunes, visual creativity in the Art Studio or the tabletop fun of the Games Club. All of the activities are overseen by Student Engagement but managed by the Student Committee—for students, by students. They choose and decide on their own activity. Therefore, everyone brought something to the celebration. Each student activity group brought their own ways to celebrate to the Harmony Gala, allowing everyone to share in each other’s passions. Together, they created a memorable evening by bringing their passions and talents together in fabulous harmony.
Gala Highlights
On registration, the students of the Art Studio presented a blank canvas (circular, because what better symbol for unity?) and invited each student to register their own brush stroke. As celebrants made their way into the Harmony Gala, a collective piece of abstract art took form. They followed this colourful introduciton with additional creative activities and selling the posters and stickers they had created together.
The Badminton Baseline held competitions with prizes. They brought their brand of energising exercise and sporting fun to the event.
Meanwhile, the Mixology Club served mocktails, including a tart ‘Yuzurita’ and Mystery Mocktail competition in which attendees tested their palates by trying to guess the ingredients.
The showcase of AIHM Tunes music performance was an excellent demonstration of talent and hard work to become ready for the event.
Our Board Games Club organised the raffle with over 70,000 Thai baht worth of prizes.
Of course, the whole event was catered by our brilliant Kitchen Crew who worked tirelessly (supported by Gavin Tiffin) to create all the wonderful dishes for us to enjoy. On the menu: delectable bites such as mini burger sliders, crispy vegetable spring rolls, shrimp wonton soup, the jazzy flavours of New Orleans chicken and the sweetness of bananas in coconut milk.
With each activity group’s contribution, the Harmony Gala presented an impressively cohesive atmosphere that demonstrated the beauty of AIHM. Even though the Gala was a student-led initiative for the students themselves, I know that I and my fellow AIHM team members had a wonderful time as well. I want to give the students a BIG ROUND OF DIGITAL APPLAUSE!
As We Grow, What’s Next?
The Enrichment and the Tutorial curriculum will continue, and I am excited to see what comes next. As the Head of Student Engagement, I have the unique honour of supporting and guiding students, providing them the opportunities and platforms to shape their own AIHM experience. This first event set the bar very high and has generated a lot of enthusiasm from the students to plan their next event. We’re all waiting in anticipation to see what their imaginations and skillsets create!
Hear from AIHM’s Students
Are you a high school student exploring possibilities for your future?
A current university student considering changing schools to find a better fit for you and your ambitions?
A working professional or anyone else who wonders if a hospitality management degree or certificate might be the key they need to unlock new opportunities?
Check out the AIHM Student Committee on Instagram, and visit the Student Ambassador section of the AIHM website to chat directly with current AIHM students and to browse their video reels showcasing AIHM from a student’s-eye-view.
