47.7 million Hispanics make up 17.8 percent of the U.S. population. Each year, from Sept. 15th to Oct. 15th, Hispanics recognize their roots during Hispanic Heritage Month. During this time, rich cultures that come from Spanish speaking countries are embraced and celebrated. 

This year there are many ways in which the RMHS community can interact and contribute to this celebration, such as the recent Spanish book opening event at the school library, giving all Hispanics a sense of inclusion in a small educational setting. Additionally, there will be a movie played after school on Wednesday, Sept 25, with the purpose of reinforcing the language open to any public, and even “paletas” sold during Sept 26 and 27. Finally, new to this year is the highly anticipated “Latino Dance” on Friday, Sept. 27 from 5PM to 8PM. 

Also, any student can participate in “Lotería,” which is something similar to bingo. The school has amped up its recognition of this important celebration by putting up decorations representative of Hispanic cultures throughout the school, as well as having information about famous Hispanic authors, artists, and more displayed on the walls. They have also put up the similarities of 21 different Hispanic countries that are connected in order to help students draw conclusions and unite these countries as one. These photos depict things such as clay plates along with utensils that many Hispanics in different countries may have at home, and candles, which for some, only have the objective of illuminating a space, but for many Hispanics, it means that light helps to pass the soul of those who are no longer present in this physical plane into heaven. Additionally, in Hispanic culture, a candle can mean the hope that a loved one’s light can help bring luck, pass a test, or even simply mean unity, faith, and prosperity.

But why a whole month of celebration? What does it mean to be Hispanic in the U.S.? Hispanics live all over the United States, from New York to California, and from Michigan to Texas, and they are proud to be united: to be one. Hispanics present a whole new perspective; where through culture, language and passion, they get to unite much more than states; they can give a voice to the world.

It’s important to recognize those with Hispanic heritage at RMHS. From the idea that those who identify as Hispanic belong to different cultures but at the same time share so much to being immigrants, bringing their own belief systems, food, and customs into society, being Hispanic in the U.S. is not at all easy. Being Hispanic means facing obstacles, where many have left everything they knew: language, family, friends, food, and homes to face a new and often scary life that can often be wrought with judgment. 

Many students at RMHS are children of Hispanic immigrant parents. So often the pressures  to “be someone” and prove something are overlooked. This can mean endless hours of working and providing to make a better life than what was had in the country their parents left, and to finally fulfill the dream that their parents could not. These pressures are not to be taken lightly. Fortunately, there are many tools that support Hispanics and take away the feeling of that pressure, most specifically, a strong Hispanic community that makes many feel comfortable, at the end of the day, making Hispanics consistently proud of who they are.