'IYKYK': A sneak peek at BYUs 150 Night of Light

Various students from different cultures gathered Wednesday, Jan. 28, for a cultural show called "IYKYK," hosted by the Multicultural Student Services office.

The event featured performances that showcased dance and music from countries such as Brazil, Tahiti and Mexico, as well as campus groups including the K-pop club and Rhythm and Soul Collective.

Organizers created the show as an informal way to connect with students, provide campus resources, share practical tips for success and highlight upcoming cultural performances.

This week's session of "IYKYK," or "If you know, you know," offered an inside look at what to expect Feb. 20 during BYUs Night of Light "World on Campus. The event intended to highlight how the cultures of the world are embraced on campus.

Eugene Marshall, an advisor for Multicultural Student Services, said the office wants to encourage students to get involved in extracurricular activities.

It's for anyone. Whatever background you come from, it doesn't matter; you can participate, Marshall said.

Whether students are performing or attending to support their peers, organizers said the shows are open to everyone. Many students find a greater sense of belonging when attending these cultural events.

Being able to share culture is something that's super important, because it's really easy to feel unseen, said Kareem Marada, a pre-nursing student and one of the Tahitian dancers. To see people represent cultures can help people feel a bit more seen. That's really important as far as building a community.

Marada said it brings her joy when people go out of their way to learn about other cultures. For many students, these events are more than a social gathering; they are a way to connect to their roots.

I think it's just really important because it goes back to showing how proud you are of culture and the people that came before you, BYU marketing student Paloma Castillo said.

Sofia Reese, a pre-nursing student, said seeing others take pride in their heritage is motivating.

When you see others taking pride in their heritage and where they come from, it inspires you it inspires me to search further into being more prideful of where I come from, Reese said.

Together, the Multicultural Student Services office and its events like "IYKYK" and the upcoming BYU 150 celebration, highlight how cultural expression shapes connections on campus.

It's not just people that are from the States, but there's international students too. I see people that come from different places, and I think it's so important to recognize that we all build this BYU culture, Castillo said.