Celebrate Your Roots

By: Sara Munoz

Hispanic Heritage Month is a national celebration that begins September 15th and continues into October. This celebration gives not only Hispanics, but  anyone who would like the opportunity to learn a little bit more about the wide varieties of hispanic cultures that exist in the US. No two Latin American countries are the same, although they share several general similarities. Hispanic heritage is usually extremely strong and family oriented; we are taught the families customs and traditions at a young age. My favorite part of being hispanic would be the crazy amounts of food. Being hispanic gives me a huge sense of pride. I was fortunate enough to learn Spanish and English while growing up and I think learning Spanish has been one of the most important things I have ever learned. I have my parents to thank for that! Without learning Spanish I would not have been able to communicate with the rest of my family in Colombia, and when we visit I would have been completely clueless in any type of scenario I was placed in, whether it be ordering food, at a mall, getting a taxi, etc. Spanish has truly been one of my biggest blessings. This is why I think it is so so crucial for children and families to continue being proud of their backgrounds, their traditions and their languages, no matter where they may be from. Being from a different background means celebrating even more holidays than before, it means having a whole other additional community to lean back on that will support you, it gives you a reason to visit countries you may not have otherwise, you get to listen to music that will make you want to get up and dance and as I will say over and over, it means eating AMAZING food. 

This is a month to celebrate diversity whether it’s in different Hispanic communities or not. Take this month as an opportunity to teach your friends about your heritage or to ask your other friends about theirs.