Simsbury High students create documentary on AAPI experiences in Connecticut
Students at Simsbury High School are using film to explore how representation and data collection shape the experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
The students created “Make Us Count,” a documentary and oral history project focused on the AAPI community in Connecticut. The project features more than 40 interviews with students, community members, and state leaders, including Attorney General William Tong.
The idea for the documentary began with students examining school data.
“We were looking at data in school systems…” Simsbury High senior Raelyn Medina said.
Students said they became concerned after noticing that Asian American students appeared largely absent from some disciplinary and attendance data categories.
“If you scrolled down to the absentee, the expulsion list, or the suspension list, they were just not represented at all,” Medina said.
The students said that discovery led them to examine broader issues surrounding representation, visibility, and public policy.
“We get to put together some historical, some legal, and personal elements and bring them all together,” Simsbury High senior Vivian Amsterdam said.
During the interview process, students said they repeatedly encountered discussions about the “model minority myth,” a stereotype suggesting Asian Americans are naturally high-achieving and successful.
“It really made me realize that the model minority myth is still existing today,” Simsbury High senior Dhriti Mallavarapu said.
Critics of the stereotype say it can create unrealistic expectations and minimize the challenges faced by different communities.
Students involved in the project also said incomplete or limited demographic data can contribute to feelings of invisibility and affect policymaking decisions.
“If we don’t have data, we can’t make decisions. It’s that simple. So, whether it’s zero, 1, or 100, policymakers need to know,” said Alan Tan of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity.
Tong also emphasized the importance of representation during an interview in the documentary.
“Representation matters because we all need other people to help us. We all need other people to fight for us,” Tong said.
The students were guided through the project by Simsbury High School English teacher Michelle Henry. Henry said hundreds of students and community members attended a screening of “Make Us Count” last week.
“A way for our students to say, we need to take action. It’s a way for us to help tell a story about the importance of being seen,” Henry said.
Henry said she hopes the project helps connect people across communities.
“We actually have more in common than we do differences,” Henry said.
For senior JP Budlong, the project carried a broader message about civic engagement and impact.
“You should try to make some good in the world,” Budlong said.
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