In 1988, Hispanic Heritage Week became Hispanic Heritage Month; the Hispanic people and culture have been celebrated each year since from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. According to the National Museum of the American Latino, the purpose of this month is “to properly recognize the significant contributions Hispanic/Latino Americans have made in the United States.” To highlight this celebration, Hispanic students across Andrews University’s campus commented on their favorite aspects of Hispanic culture and community and what their Hispanic heritage means to them.
These interviews have been edited for clarity and length.
“Hispanic Heritage Month for me means celebrating our amazing culture and everything that comes with it, from the beautiful celebrations to calling everyone ‘auntie’ or ‘uncle.’ As a first-generation [American] daughter, being connected to my culture is so important, and living in Berrien Springs allows me to connect with Hispanic cultures from all over. It’s a beautiful way of life, and I think being able to admire it and learn from it is priceless.”
- Arianna Brieva (sophomore, speech-language pathology and Spanish)
“Hispanic Heritage Month is quite complicated for me. I am from Bolivia, but in the few events I have seen so far (on campus and off campus), I barely feel represented. Most of the time the focus goes on Mexican, Venezuelan, or Central American culture in general, while other cultures are not that represented, at least from my perspective. Most Bolivian-related activities in the U.S. happen on the East Coast, particularly in Washington D.C. and New York, so I usually do not have the chance to participate and feel part of the celebration. Besides that, I do think that Hispanic Heritage Month is a good opportunity to support and promote culture and art made by Hispanic people, and I try to encourage my fellow classmates in music to look for academic (a.k.a. ‘Classical’) music written by Hispanic people. To name a few composers, there's Astor Piazzolla, Manuel Maria Ponce, Isaac Albeniz, Eduardo Caba, Carlos Chávez, Teresa Carreño, Jacqueline Nova, and many more to discover.”
- Aiko Ayala (senior, piano performance)
“My favorite aspects of the Hispanic culture and heritage are the pride [Hispanics] have for their culture along with the deep-rooted cultures they have practiced for years that they make sure to keep close to their heart. I feel Mexican culture is something that many different Hispanics have celebrated and have the ability to share with others. Hispanic Heritage Month means the celebration of the Hispanic culture and its rich history. I think while we celebrate a lot of the traditions and customs of the Hispanic culture it’s important to remember where the culture came from and learn about some of the history that these traditions originated from.”
- Joseph McKinley (senior, finance)
“My favorite aspect of Hispanic culture definitely has to be the music and the dancing. Listening to songs from El Ferxxo definitely makes the days better. I’m really proud of the hard work mentality our people have and I’m glad that we have a month that celebrates our culture and heritage. I was born in Nicaragua and moved here in 2012. Moving to the United States made me appreciate this country and all the opportunities it gave me.”
- Freddy Sanchez (junior, aviation flight)
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a month of celebration of my roots, my culture, and my family. This month serves as a reminder for me to continue to embrace the beauty of the language I speak, the amazing dishes my culture offers, the vibrant music that moves us, and the strong family values that unite us. What makes me proud to be Hispanic is the sense of community, the rich culture, and our enduring resilience. I am proud to be Hispanic because I am able to carry forward these amazing values and traditions from my culture. I am proudly Mexican, and this fills me with a sense of identity, connection to rich traditions, warmth, and creativity. We celebrate our similarities, but also the beautiful diversity within our traditions.”
- Maria Santos (junior, nursing)
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate, take pride in, and consider the contributions Hispanics have made to society. This month highlights the importance of identity and roots in a diverse yet united community, more than just recognizing cultural richness through music, food, and traditions. An aspect that I love about Hispanic culture is that it’s one of the most vibrant in the world, with each country contributing unique traditions that reflect its diversity. Celebrations, like the Day of the Dead or Carnival, are bursts of color and happiness that pay tribute to the people’s deep-rooted beliefs and history in addition to life. In addition, Hispanics’ ‘joy and festive spirit’ is demonstrated by the way they celebrate life in general, with music and dancing always present at the most significant occasions, such as weddings, birthdays, and family get-togethers. This coziness and sense of community foster a lively and welcoming culture.”
- Dersanys Holguin (junior, medical lab science)
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.