On Oct. 23, students congregated on the seventh floor balcony to watch and participate in Night on The Terrace, an annual celebration aimed at bringing Jones culture to the limelight. Organized by the Asian American Club (AAC), this event brought together a diverse array of talents, providing two hours filled with dancing, singing, and more.
The event is a culmination of several months of planning and organization from the AAC.
“It took a lot of work to put this event together,” said Ava Lee ‘26. “There were so many different clubs and performances we had to organize to make sure it all went perfectly.”
Featuring over a dozen performances from almost every single AAC sub club, the event emphasized the diversity of the Asian American experience at Jones.
“It was super cool to see all the different cultures and styles being represented at the event. I feel like they did a great job of showcasing how diverse Jones is, even within the AAC,” said Alistair Harrison ‘26.
The performances were not exclusively from Jones AAC; the Jones Performance Jazz Club Band gave an opening and intermission performance, and several ALAS clubs, including Mariachi and Folklorico, had their own unique performances. Additionally, the Lincoln Park Chinese and Vietnamese clubs performed their own routine.
“One of my favorite things about Night on The Terrace is how diverse our performance lineup is,” said Lee. “We get so many people from across Jones, even across Chicago, that want to participate in this event. And I think that’s what makes it so great.” The theme this year was “Oasis,” and for many members of the Asian community at Jones the concept is all too relevant.
“I know the theme this year is Oasis– this idea of everything going on in the outside world and trying to find our own place here at Jones, our own oasis away from everything,” said Mr. Quach, one of the club’s teacher sponsors. “I really think that the events this year are going to be so important, especially in a time like right now.”
Events like Night on the Terrace are deeply meaningful to the environment at Jones.
“The community AAC creates for Asian students at Jones is really amazing,” said Quach. “In this current political climate, that sense of oasis, camaraderie, and community we’re focusing on this year feels super meaningful.”
