Graduation Speech: A Young First Generation Latina

As Latina woman of lower-class status my experiences have shaped me enormously. Within the Latinx culture the expectations between men and women are conflicting in today’s views and movements but, my parents instilled the expectations that they also grow up in. As a Latina female, I grow up learning how to clean, cook, and take care

When choosing what college to attend I knew I had to go to Spelman. I choose to attend Spelman because of its high scholastic standards for its students and also because of the foundation Spelman bestows among young African-American women. Spelman empowers young women to be the change you want to see in the world. Spelman nourishes students ensuring that they have equal opportunity to be successful. Spelman demonstrates how African American women can not only achieve successful but also gain a sisterhood that will forever live among the students even after graduation. During NSO a quote Dr. Myra Burnett mentioned emphasized on the importance of knowing that you can be and achieve whatever you are willing to work for. Dr. Burnett states, “You can be whatever you want is an incorrect statement however, you can be whatever you are willing to work for. You can have whatever you’re willing to work for” (Burnett). Dr. Burnett explained how you can’t just have whatever you want or choose to be in life without working hard or being willing to do to achieve your goals. It takes hard work and dedication to obtain the things we want in life. Spelman College will impact my life not only through the education but through the high expectations they place upon students from NSO to graduation and beyond.

As a first-generation Latina in college, I could not be where I am without the help of multiple individuals. My parent’s sacrificed so much coming into this country. They left behind their family, their home, in order to one day provide a better future for me. Initially, my parents planned on staying in America for five years then they would go back to Ecuador. However plans changed once my mom became pregnant with me. The decision to stay in order to give me the best future possible greatly affected both my parents. They suffer greatly and lament leaving their family everyday. Only my mom has the slight possibly of returning to her home country but unfortunately, the only thing waiting her is her mother’s grave.

I had a great time today with the children and I am very proud of their progress this year. I hope they can keep practicing their Spanish during Summer break. Depending of the number of students registered I will keep teaching this advance class next year.

On Friday, January 20th everything my parents’ came here for is being destroyed by one person. They came here for us to be safe and grow up with opportunities, the ones he wants to take away from us . In Mr. Trump’s eyes every female is just a piece of meat, in my parents eyes, I’m a strong Xicana (Mexican American) and Paisa woman. I’m a woman that has ignored the hate, the racism, the discrimination all for one sole purpose, to make my parents proud. To many Americans I am nothing, to my Hispanic/Latino community I am everything. I am the future, I’m their hope, I am the one who will make them proud. I’m a junior in high school that will graduate in the year of 2018 and attend college and pursue something in the medical field and maybe get

I am grateful for the opportunity to be allowed to address joint meeting in this country that I personally call my home. This country is the land where people can be free and pursue their dreams that can not be done in any other country. As the United States Congress the whole body of this organization is to be able to defend the lives and rights of the people. This country is the home of the people that keep this country running, and part of those people is the Latino community. The Latino community now make up 1 out 4 school students in the United States and are a rapidly growing population in nontraditional settlement areas (Gandara 2017). But as the Latino community keeps growing the youth is not getting enough help to continue into higher

A few weeks ago, I was assigned to give a speech in my communications class about my background. After giving my speech, my professor excitedly approached me and said “wow, that was very inspirational. When I saw you, I thought you were just a privileged, pretty boy whose parents worked in the tech industry.” Believe it or not, this is not the first time I have gotten this reaction.

I noticed you sent an announcement out about seeing our grade as of Friday in the handout section, but when I try and click on that section there is no link for it. Also, from what I can recall, on the quizzes, and Rocketmix I am not doing well in your class and would like any and all suggestions you have for me. I'm feeling upset with myself as I've been doing well in all of my classes since attending the CSUDH I'm on track to graduate Summa Cum Laude. I have had many struggles in the past with school and getting my first Associates degree and I believe being a first generation college student did not help matter but now 10 years have past since my first degree and I've learned to be a better college student since then and going into

First I want to thank you for contacting me as humbly requested by my friend, I was very surprised to hear from you but then I am also very grateful that you contacted me. I am 6"1, Irish/English by birth , 55 years of age,  raised in England. I came to the United States a year ago to help a British construction company set up a branch but due to some internal issues between the board of directors in England they had to shut down the company just before it even started so I decided to remain in the United States and started working as an independent Contractor. Currently I am in South Africa busy with a project and after completion of the project I will be back to the U.S in 4 weeks time.  Summerville, SC is home for me when I get back to the states.

I am Latina. Although simple statement, it is one consisting of great capability and protentional beneath the surface. My grandmother, Dr. Maria Teresa Chavez-Hernandez, was an emblem of strength and one of the most influential women in my life. Against all odds, she remained true to her family obligations in Managua, Nicaragua as the oldest of eleven children while she earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, a Master of Library Science, and her Ph.D. in Library Science and Information Studies. Following her passing, the Florida Library Association created the "Maria Chavez-Hernandez Libraries Change Peoples’ Lives Award" in her honor to celebrate the "dynamic spirit of her work in expanding the opportunities of information access to under-served

Imagine strangers crossing the street to avoid you, white women clutching their purses for security, or the police arresting you for “loitering.” For many African-Americans, this has become a harsh reality. As an African-American teacher, I strive to integrate history into lessons throughout the year, not just during Black History Month. Currently, we are reading To Kill A Mockingbird, and I love teaching the background information about the setting of the novel. Every year it astounds me how many students are oblivious to events that shaped America’s identity. I hate using the same material, so I try to spruce up my lesson plans using different resources. I would like to learn more innovative ways to engage students in U.S. History. In the

Everyday humans pass hundreds possibly even thousands of their acquaintances staring into the brightly lit screens of iPhones and Androids. What could they possibly be doing that makes them so oblivious to the bustling world around them? Technology is to blame. iPhones, Androids, Blackberries, and the occasional flip phone are amongst the technology taking over the everyday lives of humans. It's the future, lifeless objects taking the lives of humans.

There are quite a few things I'm proud of that I've accomplished these past few years at Monrovia High School. During Freshman year, I went to Wild Rose Elementary school to help set up for a "camp out at school" kind of event. I spent three hours there setting up tents, helping with games, and putting everything back. I also became the secretary for the Art and Philosophy Club for Freshman and Sophmore year. During Junior year, I helped tutor Freshmen who needed helped with English or Science. I did this for a couple weeks, up to 25 hours. I also became the president of the Art and Philosophy Club at that time. Currently, I am still president of that club and have become a member of the National Honor Society (NHS) and the National Society

Hello everyone, my name is Nynnett Gonzalez. Here comes the awkward moment when asked to introduce yourself and you suddenly forget everything about yourself. I am 19 years old and a sophomore at Southeastern studying Political Science. I currently work at Choctaw Casino and Resort in the call center and interning with Representative Markwayne Mullin in McAlester. My plan is to become a lawyer and one day enter into the world of politics in some shape or

High school is supposed to be the place where you have fun and a time in your life you’re supposed to enjoy. Movies often trick you into believing that high school is an amazing time in your life and there is nothing but parties and fun. In Bring it on, they portrayed the fun and exciting part of high school cheer-leading, however they intentionally leave out the tough times high school students’ face in school and in their practices. In other popular movies, such as High School Musical the students have no pressures other than the next basketball game. In reality, this doesn 't happen. The constant pressure is affected by the grade level you are in. In high school, students can be classified based on the pressures that are faced in each grade level into the categories of freshman, sophomores/juniors, and seniors. I am here to help you make your high school experience less stressful.