An object that ties me back to my Hungarian heritage is a traditional Hungarian folklore jewelry box that has been passed down in my family. It originally belonged to my great grandmother, and now my sister keeps it on her dresser, using it to store her jewelry. The box is hand-carved from wood and decorated with classic Hungarian folk patterns in red, green, and blue. It has floral and bird designs that symbolize tradition and the beauty of the countryside. These designs are the same patterns seen in traditional Hungarian embroidery and clothing worn during festivals. Even though I don’t use the jewelry box myself, seeing it in our home reminds me of our family roots and the customs my parents grew up with in Hungary. The box is not just a decoration, it represents the history and culture of the Hungarian people and keeps those traditions alive in my family today.

An object that ties me back to my Ghanaian background is the black earthenware, known as “asanka” in Twi or Fante; it is a kitchen tool used to grind ingredients to prepare sauces or soups. This object is used with a “tapoli,” a wooden pestle. The earthenware is made from natural clay with a ridged interior that helps with the mashing process of ingredients when preparing meals. The earthenware is also a bowl used to serve various cultural dishes. My family and I use the earthenware to make a delicious spicy sauce consisting of tomato, hot peppers, and sardines, called “mako”, that can be eaten with rice, banku, dokun, and other dishes.

– Emmanuella Bentil

The object I selected that represents my background is my Poncho. Although, this isn’t a ecuadorian poncho, but instead a chilean poncho. Poncho are found all across the Southern American countries by the Andes Mountains. These Ponchos predated the Columbian times, as it was wore to keep the indigenous people warm from the strong winds and harsh weather. So whenever you go to festivals of any of any of these Southern American countries, you can always find someone wearing these ponchos. This poncho doesnt just connects me to my ecuadorian ancenstry but also to my indigenous ancestry that many other people in those countries share as well as me. Additionally, i love wearing this whenever its cold inside my apartment, I feel like a big fluffy bird.

– Donobant Sarmiento

This statue of a poodle was given to my family by our elderly neigbor. Every morning when I would walk my dog my neigbor would come outside and greet us. He was extremely fond of my dog and always called her beautiful. One day he said he had a statue who looked just like my dog and that he wanted to give it to us. Ever since that statue has been sitting in my living room. Although, we know nothing about the statue or where it came from it is a representation of the importance of community. It also really does look exactly like my dog! 

An everyday object that connects me to my background and family is the small silver necklace with my name written in Hebrew that my grandma gave me for my bat mitzvah. It’s one of the most meaningful things I own because it represents my Jewish roots, and the traditions that have shaped who I am. When I wear it, I feel connected not just to her, but to my heritage, the language, faith, and strength that have carried my family through generations. The fact that it was a gift from my grandma makes it even more meaningful, since her family fled from Romania to Israel due to persecution when she was little, and especially since it was given at such a coming-of-age celebration. Everyday objects can reveal so much about people’s lives, and for me, this necklace tells a story of identity, resilience, and love that runs deeply through my family’s history. – Ori Cohen

For my object, I chose a bracelet I have worn every single day for the past year. As the son of 2 immigrants from the Dominican Republic, I have travelled there many times. My grandpa gave me this bracelet as a gift when he came back from one of his visits to DR in 2024. I’ve had many different bracelets from DR, including one with stones that are only found there. This one is made with different stones and wood spheres that are shaped into beads. It’s not made of gold, nor is it worth $10,000. Yet still, this bracelet is special to me because of it’s significance in my everyday life and the role it plays in reminding me that I am always loved by my family and friends in both the United States and the Dominican Republic. It ties me back to my family and my culture every time I look at it.

An object that connects deeply to my cultural history is my Magen David necklace. Made of silver, it’s a cool, star-shaped piece that shines as a symbol of my Jewish identity, faith, and the generations that came before me. It also serves as a magical amulet, meant to protect me wherever I go. My father gifted it to me during Chanukah, a time of light and remembrance, which makes it even more meaningful. Whenever I wear it, I feel grounded in who I am and where I come from.

-Mark Eisenberger

An object that ties me to my background is hot pot. Hot pot is a communal Asian dish that involves a simmering pot of rich broth, where people can cook different raw ingredients in the broth (ex: seafood, vegetables, noodles, meats), and when ready, they would dip the cooked food in customized dipping sauces. In my family, we usually have hot pot on special occasions and holidays, especially on holidays like Chinese New Year, Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, etc. Whenever my family has hot pot, we always invite my aunts, uncles, and cousins to gather together at my house to have it together, and it’s a lovely experience. Through hot pot, we get to catch up while sharing a delicious meal, and it has become a tradition in my family. Hot pot has become a symbol of both unity, family, and warmth.

– Fiona Wong

One object that connects me deeply to my Jamaican roots is the pressure cooker. In my family, it’s more than just a kitchen tool, it’s a symbol of family and our way of sharing love through food. We use it a lot to make oxtail, which is one of my favorite dishes and a big part of Jamaican cuisine. The pressure cooker helps us cook the oxtail quickly and makes it really tender, so the flavors of the spices and seasonings come out perfectly. Jamacia once had intense food scarcity and oxtail was originally leftover pieces of meat. But with pressure cooking, those leftovers turned into a delicious, tender meal. It brings us together around the table, and it reminds me of how important food is in our culture. For me, the pressure cooker is a part of a story of resilience, community, and Jamaican tradition.