Hispanic Heritage Month a Time for Many HutchCC Students to Reflect, Celebrate

By Bianca Salazar
Staff writer
IG: bancasalazar_bts

For the months of September and October, Hispanic students celebrate a month of recognition of their cultures. These students look back on the sacrifices and hardships their ancestors faced and begin to look forward to the future.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The month is kicked off with the celebration of Mexico’s independence day and throughout the month, many cities in the United States celebrate with various celebrations.

Hutchinson sophomore Ruby Tovar-Contreras talks about what this month means to her.

“Not only does Hispanic Heritage Month validate my culture, but it also recognizes the sacrifices that our parents and our families have made in order to get us where we are now, both as individuals and as a society,” she said.

Tovar-Contreras’ family is from Mexico City, while she was born and raised in Hutchinson. She has seen the many sacrifices that her family has made throughout her life and wants to continue to persevere and succeed for their efforts.

“For the very early years of my life, my mother was a stay-at-home mom until I was old enough to attend school,” she said. “She then got a job part-time while simultaneously taking care of my sister and I. My father, at least throughout my lifetime, has never gone without just one job. He usually works both full-time and part-time jobs.”

At Hutchinson Community College, there are some Hispanic students who are first generation college students. These students are one of the first in their family to attend college in the United States.

Hutchinson freshman Agustin Segoviano reminisces how he recognized how important it was to be first generation.

“I sort of realized I was a first generation student when I was a kid because I had reached the same level of education my father had gotten when I was in the sixth grade,” Segoviano said. “That really opened my eyes on what my dad’s life was like or has been like. It didn’t really mean much to me at the time since I didn’t fully understand that but I realized it more when I got older when my dad asked questions that seemed simple to me but not to him.”

Segoviano’s parents are from the Mexican states of Jalisco and San Luis Potosi. His parents later met in Hays and started a family there.

These students have one thing in common and that is the need to succeed for their parents.

Hutchinson freshman Mariana Segoviano, who is Agustin Sagoviano’s cousin, talks about the pressure she feels to succeed.

“There is a different type of pressure from your loved ones to watch you succeed,” she said. “They were not able to do that same type of education, so it’s beautiful in a way to watch them see me succeed in such a pivotal stage. The stress and anxiety of succeeding can take a toll on anyone in a new space, but especially those first-gen college students.”

Mariana Segoviano’s parents come from the Mexican state of Jalisco, while her and her siblings were born and raised in Hutchinson as well.

Each of these students are here from the support of their family and mentors. They each learned lessons that they carry with them. Not only are these lessons for them, but lessons for everybody they come in contact with.

“My parents have made many sacrifices for my siblings and I,” Agustin Segoviano said. “They left their homes and family in Mexico to come here and work to support themselves and their family back home. My dad always taught me at a young age that when I do a job you don’t just do a ‘good job’ you do the best job you possibly can by giving a 100% in everything that you do. He told me I have to be not just motivated but dedicated to everything I promise myself because every failed promise affects your promises that you will make later in your life.”

These students carry the hopes and dreams of their parents on their back. As the month continues, these students will reflect on the hardships sacrifices their parents and family have made and celebrate their history with the people around them.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the history and culture of our ancestors, but also to keep this alive,” Mariana said.

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