Every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, millions of Americans celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing the contributions of Hispanic citizens in the country and their history that shapes the American identity. 

Based on data from the US census bureau, the origin of Hispanic Heritage Month traces back to the year 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, and over the following decades, this month is celebrated through forms such as festivals and conventions. 

This year, LTHS students have also celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in their own ways. 

Junior Nicole Herrera said that Hispanic Heritage month holds special meaning to her as it is a celebration of her ancestry and culture. 

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of who I am,” Herrera said. “It’s a way to celebrate the cultural richness of our community and a way to highlight the achievements and contributions of all who came before me.” 

When asked about Hispanic individuals that have influenced her identity, Herrera said that Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez are some from the list. 

“I find myself so inspired by Justice Sotomayor’s career because she became the first  Latina to serve and was able to thrive in the legal field where women and Hispanics are generally underrepresented, “ Herrera said. “Additionally, I am also greatly inspired by Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez who was one of the best known Latin-American writers in history and won a Nobel Prize for Literature.”  

Nevertheless, many non-Hispanic students such as junior Mansi Madhani said that Hispanic Heritage Month is a way for them to broaden their knowledge of Hispanic culture and its unique qualities.

“I am a person who loves learning about diverse cultures from all around the world,” Madhani said. “ So learning more about the culture from Spanish-speaking countries is something that greatly interests me!” 

Mansi also said that taking AP Spanish has greatly helped her in learning about Hispanic culture from various angles. 

“At least once a week, we learn about a specific cultural tradition from a Spanish-speaking country, as well as the significance of the tradition itself,” Madhani said. “ Occasionally, we’ll also complete research projects and similar assignments to help us further our understanding of Hispanic culture. It is a very enjoyable and enriching experience overall!” 

As the role of Hispanic Americans continues to change, Herrera said that the increase in representation of the Hispanic population helped portray the community in more diverse ways.

“Now, there has been an increase in positive media representation as portrayed in the television series One Day At A Time and other media forms,” Herrera said. “Additionally  there has been an increase in Hispanic representation in politics and government as well [which was] demonstrated in the 2020 election where more Latinos were elected to Congress in both parties. Although Hispanic representation still needs improvement I think these examples signify progress.” 

When asked about hopes for Hispanic communities in the future, Herrera said that she will take her role by amplifying her voice and take on whatever role necessary to share her culture with more people.

“I hope for the Hispanic community to gain more visibility and representation in the future,” Herrera said. “ To recognize Hispanic heritage I’ll amplify the voices in my community and share my culture and story with my peers.”