Hispanic Heritage Month: How WGHS Students Blend Cultures

Hispanic Heritage Month has arrived in America, as well as at Walnut Grove High School, celebrating the people, culture, and heritage of the Hispanic people, who have very diverse and uniquely interesting experiences which ultimately shape who they are as people.​
by Mariana Castaneda and Noah Summers

(Image via Jasmine Ocampo)

What is Hispanic Heritage Month? Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15th to October 15th to recognize the history, cultures, traditions, and the different contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. The month gives people an opportunity to learn about the different countries, cultures, and experiences that make up the Hispanic community.

Jasmine Ocampo (12th Grade) Jasmine Ocampo was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico. She was raised there and eventually moved to the United States. When she first witnessed American culture, it was insipid to her. “It seemed boring; there weren't as many things as there are in Mexico.” In Guanajuato, it was very common to see vibrancy and prism, but when comparing the U.S. to Mexico, there was a clear winner: “Not much color in the celebrations they have.” Value-wise, she desired to keep her celebrations close and her traditions closer. She will never let go of El Día de los Muertos, nor will she forget about Quinceañeras. It also wasn’t easy adjusting to American culture and the English language: “trying to fit both cultures—having to switch languages and mixing Spanish words with English words.” Yet, even with the culture shock, her outlooks haven’t changed. She still has the same dreams after high school; the only issue is that “it's just more difficult because I'm not sure what colleges have what I want to do.”

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Fernanda Gonzalez (12th Grade) Fernanda Gonzalez was born in Mexico City, Mexico, before moving to the United States. When she first experienced American culture, she noticed how different it was from the culture she grew up with. “I thought American culture was very different from what I was used to.” She noticed a big difference in traditions, language, and everyday life. Even while adapting to a different culture, she wants to keep the importance of family as her number one value. “Family is a very important part of Mexican culture, and I want to keep those strong connections.” Balancing the traditions and the values of both cultures has been one of her biggest challenges. However, her experiences living in the U.S. have also influenced her to achieve her future goals. After high school, Fernanda hopes to become an immigration lawyer and help immigrants and families understand and navigate the immigration system.

(Images via Fernanda Gonzalez)

​Valeria Pavia (12th Grade) Valeria Pavia is from the beautiful country of Venezuela, where she was born and raised. Once she moved to the U.S., she found it “pretty different from what I was used to. The way people talk, act, and do things was kinda new to me.” The culture, the values, the landscape, and the social norms were all quite novel to her, and she struggled, “trying to balance both cultures, especially with the language and just getting used to how things are here.” And even after that adjustment period ceased, she was left with a very important value: “Family. I grew up being really close with my family, and I wanna keep that wherever I go.” And especially after moving to the U.S., she has come to value schooling a lot more. “After high school, I wanna go to college and become a nurse.”
(Images via Valeria Pavia)

As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, students at Walnut Grove High School have the opportunity to celebrate the different cultures and experiences within their community. Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a reminder to appreciate these differences and recognize the cultures that help make the school community diverse.