The 2023-24 school year marks the first time the Hispanic population became the majority at Chamblee High School. Therefore, it has become increasingly important to make sure this growing population is represented well and uplifted. Chamblee’s students and teachers really showed their support this Hispanic Heritage Month.
This is the first year, in all my 12 years of being in this school system, that it felt like Hispanic Heritage Month mattered. While remembering previous achievements of significant Hispanic people is essential to spreading awareness, having them physically present feels infinitely motivating. Señora Rios and Ms. Stanhope worked tirelessly to pull numerous inspiring speakers into our school’s auditorium. It was also great to hear from people from an array of jobs including but not limited to the Executive Director of Latino Community Fund [Gilda (Gigi) Pedraza], Assistant Research Professor at Neuroscience Institute [Alexandra Castillo-Ruiz], Navy Recruiter [Alan Espino], Dental Hygienist from Brookhaven Family Dentistry [Yara Espino]. These differing careers show how people with the same cultural background as me can succeed in this environment. Hopefully, the celebration of cultural diversity can continue so that all students can feel proud of who they are and aspire to larger goals.
For this month, upon entering the school, students were greeted with the paintings of Hispanic artists like Frida Kahlo. On the third floor, Señora Anderson and Rodriguez’s classes decorated the middle of the hallway with their students’ biographical projects on significant people, Latin American countries’ flags, and papel picado (punched paper) hanging from the ceiling. Not only was it fun to look at, but it was also incredibly informative. On the morning announcements, La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Honor Society) would announce a fact like a statistic to emphasize the importance of Hispanic people.
The Hispanic/Latino population has always been overlooked, but hopefully, they can be recognized more often. At the high school level, students should be putting more effort into making something of themselves besides being in the bathroom. There needs to be a change in students, which hopefully will be made when they believe in themselves and create valuable connections to higher education.
