Every year since 1988, the United States has devoted National Hispanic Heritage Month between Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Hispanic and Latine people to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. This time period also coincides with the independence celebrations for a number of Latin American countries.
Student reflections
Happy Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month! ¡Feliz mes de la herencia hispana/latine!
As we celebrate Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month, we invite you to read some reflections from some of our Hispanic and Latine students.
Andy Estrada
I was born to Mexican and Guatemalan parents in Waukegan, IL, a community of mostly Mexican immigrants. Growing up, it felt natural to be surrounded by people who looked like me and spoke both Spanish and English. It wasn’t until I entered higher education that I realized how underrepresented—and not always welcomed—our communities are in those spaces. Hispanic Heritage Month allows me to celebrate our culture by telling our stories and uplifting one another. It’s a time to honor the resilience of those who came before us while also advocating for greater representation and opportunities for the next generation.
Christian Pelayo
I view LHS heritage month as an opportunity to understand the lives of a historically misunderstood population. A people marked by strength in community, courage to migrate, and joy for life—yet too often misunderstood as incompetent, helpless, or irresponsible. Though bound together by a shared language, my favorite cultural tradition is resilience: the belief that tomorrow will be better—whether grounded in faith in God, love for family or life, or the acceptance of life as a continuous challenge to be overcome. Resilience, nonetheless.
Uriel Paniagua
We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to reflect on the cultural traditions and circumstances that have shaped our identity. For me, celebrating this month means recognizing the challenges that those before me overcame so I could be where I am today. My favorite tradition is having tamales during the holidays.
Miguel Garcia
To me, being Latinx means strength through unity and community. We find strength through helping each other and caring for one another. My favorite cultural traditions are the yearly “posadas,” which is a nine-day religious festival prior to Christmas.