As students enjoy the long-awaiting fall break and as October is halfway over, Hispanic Heritage Month also concludes. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15. This month is dedicated to the contributions of Hispanic/Latino culture to the United States.
Here is what Chamblee students have to say about what Hispanic Heritage Month means to them:
“Hispanic Heritage Month and the Hispanic community really means a lot to me because it’s a part of my identity, since both my parents are Hispanic. That is a proud identity that I have,” said Eric Ramos (‘25).
“It is to celebrate our culture. To not forget where we came from, and to keep in mind all the sacrifices that our parents did to get us here,” said Janely Morales (‘26).
“It means to celebrate our ancestors and what they have done for our current generations of Hispanics/Latinos,” said Diego Linares Noguera (‘28).
“It is great [that Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated] and people should definitely appreciate the different cultures, foods, and everything that makes this month unique,” said Brianna Carias (‘25).
Students throughout the school were eager to commemorate this month.
“I love the idea of Hispanic Heritage Month being celebrated at the school because it shows how important our culture is to the community and it also helps no one feel left out,” said Kimberly Resendiz (‘25).
Although Hispanic Heritage Month is a month of recognition, some students have experienced difficult and uncomfortable situations.
“I have had a racist incident at the school. It was when I was a freshman, people assumed, by the way, I dressed because it was all dresses, they assumed I was Hispanic and that I couldn’t speak English,” said Marlita Cadena (‘25).
Stereotypes have affected the way some students carry themselves.
“It’s as if there’s already a stereotype [for Hispanic/Latino people] and people naturally assume if you’re Hispanic you are a criminal or not smart which is really disappointing,” said Carias. “It’s like when people learn I’m Hispanic they’re like “you’re Hispanic?” It’s as if they already had an image of how Hispanics act.”
“I do feel like Hispanic people receive discrimination because they’re not the first thing you think of when you think of college graduates,” said Cadena.
Some initiatives can be done by the school, to expand the Hispanic/Latino community.
“[I do believe the school can be more inclusive.] That’s the reason I have different types of clubs. I have the Conexion Latina club, the Latino Youth Leadership Academy (LYLA) club, the Club for the HOPE scholarship, and a club for Latino Engineers,” said Spanish teacher Gina Rios.
Camila Molina (26’), a student who came to the United States over 3 years ago agrees that Hispanics are very much discriminated against, and sometimes for the wrong reasons.
“I think it’s especially common here in the United States, it’s very common. Most Hispanic families come from their homelands and they come here to get better opportunities, but most people make them feel less because of the way they come from,” said Molina.
Most interestingly, for students who immigrated to the U.S, Hispanic Heritage Month is foreign to them.
“I really don’t know what Hispanic Heritage Month is. In Guatemala, we do celebrate our Independence Day which is September 14 but we don’t celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, this is all new to me,” said Roxana Lopez (‘27).
However, these students have recognized the efforts that Chamblee High School has made towards this month. Chamblee High School celebrated this month by starting off the morning with informative facts.
“Every year with Hispanic Heritage Month, the Spanish Honor Society and Conexion Latina make morning announcements about influential Hispanic figures that have helped the Hispanic community in many ways, and doing the announcements help people become aware of influential Hispanic figures,” said Ramos.
Chamblee has also set up decorations.
“They have put up our flags up in the sky bridge and have done a few activities like the soccer match after school for all Latinos to join in if they want to,” said Linares.
Inclusivity is what many Hispanics want and look forward to when coming to school.
“Chamblee has done a lot for Latinos like programs and parent meetings to inform and motivate them so that their students may move forward in their education To also prepare them for the university,” said Irma Barajas, a cafeteria lunch staff who has worked with Chamblee for seven years.
Diversity and blending of cultures are what make Hispanic students and this month unique.
