The Charter community finds itself located in South Florida where La Herencia Hispana is found everywhere you go. The rich Hispanic cultures from South and Central America and the Caribbean islands enlightens our everyday life and embellishes us with their vibrant food, music, and people. To honor all Hispanics, Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15th to Oct. 15th. At PPCHS, Hispanic heritage runs through the veins of many Jaguars and Latino pride races throughout the halls, shaping each individual into who they are today.
Taking a step back to appreciate where they each have come from and the cultural experiences that have molded them into who they are now has led to memories of their home country. Senior Diedra Pabon reminisces back to her time in Peru, “My favorite memory definitely has to be when my mom and I used to go late night runs to the local shop to get some food together. It’s my favorite part about being over there, everything is right around the corner!”
Similarly, senior Spanish Honor Society (SHS) President Anabelle Acevedo recalls her times in Cuba, “I remember celebrating my brother’s 7th birthday and going to the beach with my family.” Alike experiences shared as sophomore Karla Frontado Fuenmayor recalls smiling, “My favorite memory is when I was celebrating my aunt’s birthday and my cousin and I were making the cake while we ate a bunch of Venezuelan chocolate.” As the memories of joining together and bonding with family resurface in the minds of these PPCHS students, they reflect on honoring their roots since childhood.
Not only students, but teachers at Charter celebrate their culture and continue to connect to what it means to be Latino. Art teacher Mr. Hernandez finds joy in his Puerto Rican roots and shares, “I stay connected to my heritage in school through the relationships I have or create with my coworkers and students. This allows me to share some of my experiences growing up in Puerto Rico and at the same time gives me the chance to learn about others.”
Living and working in such a diverse and culturally rich area has allowed teachers to remain connected to where they come from. Science teacher Mrs. Pardo explains, “It is easy since South Florida is a melting pot, and we have so many cultures here that we are reminded where we came from almost every day.”
Heritage has and will continue to impact the lives of Hispanics here at PPCHS. Even through the struggles and difficulties some Latinos have endured due to issues in their homeland, they haven’t stopped appreciating the simple gift it is to be native to their country.
Fuenmayor wholeheartedly expresses, “Being Venezuelan has definitely helped me value everything that I have today. Many don’t know that Venezuelans who live in the country face extreme poverty and corruption by the dictatorship under Nicolas Maduro. That’s why I’m so grateful to have been able to immigrate into a country where there’s access to so much. I know the United States isn’t the perfect country, but I am so grateful to be able to even say this to share my story.”
The stories don’t end there, as other Hispanics share familiar experiences. Acevedo, from her homeland of Cuba, can unfortunately no longer visit her country due to the economic and political status it finds itself in. It is also too expensive and requires a visa to be able to go back. However, these hardships don’t stop Acevedo from staying true to her Cuban roots as she states, “I take pride in knowing Spanish and being able to communicate with my family who have an endless list of stories to tell of the hardships and difficulties they endured.”
Video calling from WhatsApp and visiting other areas of Florida like Miami and Hialeah has been a gateway for Hispanics living in the United States. It has allowed many to continue honoring their roots and feeling a piece of their home still close by. Additionally, the rhythm of their music transports Hispanics right back to their homeland and maintaining the language of Spanish active in their lives ensures they stay in tune with where they are from.
Junior Diego Padilla exclaims, “I stay connected with my culture by playing music and speaking Spanish at home. Speaking the language of my country for decades keeps me in touch and playing music such as samba also helps me with my Puerto Rican rhythm!”
Here at PPCHS, everyone is welcomed to dive into the colorful traditions and activities offered by Charter’s Hispanic community. Acevedo expresses that her “main goal as the SHS president is to encourage our members to explore and celebrate their culture. SHS allows members to be prideful and have fun whether that be through club events or simply wearing a shirt that represents your heritage.” With Hispanic Heritage Week coming up, Jags will be open to multiple activities from cooking arepas to playing dominoes to promote Latino fun and learning.
With the much love and intensity that Charter holds for their home countries, pride resonates within their voices as they explain their favorite thing about their culture. Hernandez states, “I love how strong we are as people and as a community. It doesn’t matter the problem or how difficult a situation might look, we are strong, resilient, and we don’t give up.”
Padilla expresses his favorite is, “the welcoming environment that Puerto Ricans have. They make everyone feel at home and like family and I feel like that’s important.” Lastly to Acevedo it’s the “importance of family, music, and sacred traditions such as Noche Buena.” Whatever the favorite might be, the community within each is simply the best part.
For Hispanics, the overwhelming sensation of spotting your country’s flag on the wall or your homeland winning a sports game is a truly unique feeling. It’s a feeling of deep pride for where you come from. It is a feeling of gratitude for your roots even while not living there. It’s a feeling of fulfillment for maintaining the Spanish language, sharing your cultural values, dancing to your music, and eating your food. Together, la Herencia Hispania continues to shine its colors vibrantly in the halls of Charter. ¡Que vivan los Latinos!
