September 15–October 15 marks National Hispanic Heritage Month, and throughout this past month, BSM took steps to celebrate the impact that Hispanic people have had on history, as well as the Hispanic heritage of members within the community.

To engage the entire school in the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the World Language Department organized a contest challenging students from both the junior and senior high to identify ten Hispanic people whose pictures were posted along the wall by the chapel. “Some of [the faces] are pretty recognizable, some are lesser known… [The] people come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences,” Spanish teacher and organizer of the contest, Ms. Mary Murray said.

Murray organized the contest in order to encourage students to recognize and celebrate the faces of historical and impactful Hispanic people, as well as to combat the negative stereotypes surrounding Hispanic people in America. “It’s not always about what the media says, and not all Latinos are what the media says they are. [The media] perpetuates negative stereotypes about Hispanics.” Murray said.

Murray also brought the celebration into the classroom, assigning each of the students in her Spanish V classes to research a different Hispanic person and write a short biography on them. These biographies, accompanied by pictures, are displayed on the walls of the west wing hallway. Murray assigned the project in order to demonstrate the diversity within the realm of Hispanic people. “There are Latinos that don’t look like Latinos; there are [Hispanic] people that look African, there are Latinos that may not speak Spanish,” Murray said.

Recognizing the diverse makeup of all Hispanics is important for Hispanic students at BSM, who feel their culture is overlooked or unappreciated. “Many people think that all Hispanics are Mexicans, and that really bothers me. The assumption is that because you’re Latina, you’re probably from Mexico,” senior Andrea Ochoa said. Ochoa’s parents emigrated from Guatemala before she was born. Hispanic Heritage Month offers everyone the opportunity to learn about and show respect for all traditions and identities of all Spanish-speaking cultures. “I feel like [most people] don’t try to understand Hispanic traditions like quinceaneras, for example,” junior Cristina Marier said.

Exposure to the diversity and range of Hispanic people will hopefully help members of the BSM community shift away from the negative stereotypes portrayed by the modern media. “Take the opportunity to learn something,” senior Alma Godinez said. Ochoa believes the community should keep an open mind about Hispanics, especially as the election draws closer. “There are people here who want to live the American dream. They’ve come here leaving everything behind, and they’re working to just be successful and be someone in life,” Ochoa said.

The path towards this success can be difficult as a Hispanic in America. “[You have] to work harder to achieve what you want. They won’t just give it to you because of the color of your skin,” Ochoa said. Many Hispanic students at BSM look up to their parents, some of who immigrated to America, as people who have overcome extreme challenges as Hispanic-Americans. “My parents don’t give up on [me,] and they’ve sacrificed a lot so that I can have a better life,” senior José Machuca said.

Even with the support and sacrifices of their parents, Hispanic students still may face significant obstacles. Andrea Ochoa learned English as her second language, speaking primarily Spanish until second grade, when English became necessary to communicate with her teachers. “You just have to work harder to achieve what you want,” Ochoa said.

While the photo contest and gallery of biographies raise awareness of Hispanic Heritage Month around the school, there is more that can be done, and the organizers within the World Language department as well as Hispanic students hope for more inclusive and engaging events for next year’s celebration. A guest speaker, a movie festival, features of historical Hispanics on the morning announcements, dancers, or a community meal of authentic foods from a variety of Hispanic cultures could all be possibilities for future Hispanic Heritage Months at BSM.

While many hope for more recognition of Hispanic students’ cultures, it is logistically difficult to schedule large events at the beginning of the school year. “The administration doesn’t allow us to do much more than [World Language and Culture week in March] simply because it’s a lot to take kids out of classes,” Murray said.