Provided by Lela Izaddoost

Senior Lela Izaddoost showcases a traditional Iranian dish, ghormeh sabzi, a beef stew containing dried lemons, herbs, beef and red kidney beans. Izaddoost learned how to make the dish for the first time with her Iranian grandmother.

“I feel like maybe there was just something missing before [Persian Club].

In my sophomore year, [senior] Rustin Golshan came to me and said, ‘Hey, I’m starting this Persian club. Would you like to come join and be the vice president?’ But this was during a time in my life where I didn’t really feel connected to my Persian ancestry. On my dad’s side, he speaks Farsi, but we never really dwelled in it, so I felt really disconnected. So I thought ‘Ok, this would be nice, I can get to learn more.’

I’ve become more involved because I’ve learned a lot more about the politics going on in the Middle East. [For Persian Club], I do research on political events so I learn the history. I help create slideshows and present them [at club meetings]. Persian Club is a way to tell Bellaire that we’re just people. It’s our culture, but we’re not necessarily associated with other things politically. We just want to share our culture.

I feel like I’ve gained a lot more knowledge and felt closer to my culture because of Persian Club. I’ve also started observing Ramadan. I’m not Muslim, but because it’s a tradition throughout my entire family, I feel like it’s my job to keep it going. [I want] to make sure that Persians aren’t seen in a bad light but just as people trying to live our lives.

I’m more open minded. I enjoy learning about other people’s cultures. In my daily life, I feel like part of me is back. I’ve tried to learn Farsi before, and I don’t think it’s going to happen, but I feel a little bit closer to complete.

A couple months ago, I had an epiphany. I realized I was in tune with my culture. I was doing research about things happening politically and where [they] originally emanated from. I was sitting in AP Chemistry doing research, and I was looking at where political things originally emanated from, thinking, ‘Oh my God, this makes so much more sense now that I understand what’s happened in the past.’

Bellaire is very diverse and open minded. I feel like people coming and learning is just [a chance] to learn more about something [they] never really thought about. A lot of people that come to the meetings aren’t Persian. The community is made of people who want to learn more. Although they aren’t Persian in ethnicity, knowing more and then being able to understand is the best part.

At our last meeting, we got noticed by an influencer on Instagram. We were talking about the cultural significance of foods, like saffron and pomegranate, and we posted photos of our slideshow. He’s this guy called ‘Dine with Kent,’ who rates different foods, and he reposted our club saying, ‘Yes, this club — good on you.’ He’s a country guy who is a very emphatic viewer, and he’s coming to see us next week.

On my mom’s side, I’m half Taiwanese, and I’ve been to Taiwan. I’ve seen my grandpa’s village, and we celebrate Lunar New Year. On my dad’s side, I know how to make some Persian dishes now because of my newfound interest. My grandma used to bring over food, say happy birthday and give me $20. [Before], I thought, ‘Yes, $20,’ but now I’m able to recognize that it’s because of this continuous [tradition], and I just feel more fulfilled. My relationship with my dad is better because I’m asking about his past. Usually, he’s not one to say, ‘Yeah, when I was younger, I went and did this and this.’ Now, I ask him things, [and] I’ve learned how his family immigrated to the U.S.

[Persian Club] is something that I helped make. Because being Iranian and Persian isn’t something that is widely talked about very much, it’s just a space where there’s no fear of backlash.

When I asked my dad why he wanted to be called Persian instead of Iranian, he said, ‘Because when people hear Iranian, they think of the wrong thing.’ They think of something he doesn’t want us to think. Persian Club is a safe space. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, we’ll always take you in. In the community of Bellaire and Houston, especially because of the diversity of people who are here, I feel safe no matter where I am.”