Cultural diversity: Students celebrate what Hispanic Heritage Month means to them

Composite image of four portraits of UAlbany students posing outdoors on campus

ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 1, 2024) — Hispanic Heritage Month is a monthlong celebration recognizing the history, achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

Celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded in 1988 to a month by President Ronald Reagan. Many Central American countries celebrate their independence days within the observed time frame, beginning on Sept. 15 with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico followed on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept. 21.

UAlbany students of Hispanic and Latino background recently spoke about why this month is important and what it means to them.

— Photos by Mario Sotomayor

Samantha Sosa

A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a denim jacket over a pink dress sits on a bench on a sunny day. — Class of 2025. Sociology major. President of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc & Dominican Student Association.

“Hispanic Heritage means to me that you’re able to celebrate your identity, being able to express yourself and the things that you love and you’re passionate for. Hispanic Heritage is very important to celebrate because we are able to come together and understand the difficulty, we are all going through and find comfort and peace. I want people to know that we are very strong and prevailing. We do not fold or break. We always fight for the things we love.”

Nicolas Rivera

A young man with short black hair and a goatee wearing a blue suit and silver tie leans against a railing outside on the UAlbany campus. — Class of 2025. Business Economics major. President of The Associations Latino Professionals for America & President of the Puerto Rican Student Association.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is meant to celebrate the unification of Hispanics, regardless of dialect, because there is quite a bit of variety wherever you are, whether it’s in Central South America or even in the Caribbean. Being as secularized as we are across different continents, I think it's pivotal for our community to embrace each other. I really do feel like whether you speak Spanish or not, it's a great celebratory moment, whether you're in the community or otherwise."

Juan Esteban Ruiz Diaz Morales

A young man with short black hair and a goatee wearing a gray suit and black tie smiles and poses for a portrait in front of a fountain. — Class of 2025. Emergency preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity major. Sigma Betta Rho Fraternity, Inc.

“I was born in Paraguay and came to this country when I was 8 years old. I still think about the mornings when I would sit under a mango tree drinking tereré or maté. That’s something I can’t get here, and it brings me back. Hispanic Heritage, to me, is the acknowledgment of all the diverse cultures that came to this country. It’s very important to be aware of different cultures and ethnicities that help the community itself. I want people to know that not all Spanish-speaking individuals are from the same place. They come from different backgrounds and cultures and even different ethnicities.”

Jayson Mendez

A young man with short curly black hair and a mustache wearing a green polo shirt and chain poses outdoors with his arms crossed. — Class of 2025. Cybersecurity major. President of Fuerza Latina.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time where all different cultures can come together and celebrate the different traditions they have. I want the people to know not all Hispanic cultures are the same and we all offer different perspectives on life. My Dominican culture inspires me and gives me a sense of belonging. We are very expressive, and this expression allows me to be creative and confident in anything I do. I feel most connected to my heritage on Christmas Eve. That’s when my family comes together, and we have specific traditions set that we do every year.”