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| Recent HNIP Alumna Authors Her First University Newspaper Article |
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October 24, 2007
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Maritza Huerta, a recent HNIP alumna, finished her internship with the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. this summer. Since returning home to California, her first article was published in her University newspaper. Please take the time to read her great article.
Immigrant student embraces both Mexican and American cultures
Mexican student uses education to her advantage for future plans
By: Maritza HuertaWhile spending time with friends, someone comes up with the spontaneous idea to take a trip to Tijuana, Mexico. Everyone becomes excited and yells ideas back and forth about all the fun that waits just south of the border. Then the enthusiasm quickly fades as they remember that if they all go to Mexico, one of them will not be allowed to return.
Janet Herrera, 23, was born in Puebla, Mexico and came undocumented to the United States at age 4 with her parents. Similar to the many Hispanics who come to the United States, her parents wanted to make a better life for themselves and their family.
"I'm very proud of being born in Mexico," she said.
Although she has lived most of her life in Costa Mesa, the Mexican culture has always played a major role in her life. Her family raised her eating Mexican food, listening to Mexican music and speaking the Spanish language.
The cultural differences between Mexico and the United States were not an obstacle. Instead, the cultures would sometimes blend together. It is common for Hispanic children to speak "Spanglish," a mixture of Spanish and English, because of their diverse environment. Herrera admits that sometimes people cannot help but mix both the Spanish they hear at home and the English they hear at school.
"It's not just enough to speak and read Spanish, but it's important to use it properly," she said.
John Reid, the Student Diversity Program director at CSUF, said he believes forcing Hispanic children to only speak English takes away from the child's self-identity. He states that learning Spanish and other cultural traditions helps children understand where they came from and who they are.
Growing up, Herrera did not feel isolated from American students in school. In high school she said she always performed at the same level as any other student, and that allowed her not to feel subordinate to her classmates and pursue higher education.
The AB 540 Dream Act allows any student to be "exempt from nonresident tuition at all public universities and colleges in California," according to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. The Dream Act helped Herrera transition from high school to a university.
Herrera attended Orange Coast College for three and a half years and then transferred to CSUF fall 2006. Hispanics made up 27 percent of the student body, according to the fall 2006 census. CSUF has many different clubs and organizations to serve the growing Hispanic population, including the Lambda Theta Alpha, a Latin sorority.
Herrera joined the sorority during her first semester and is currently the vice president.
Being part of the sorority allows her to relate to other Latinas with the same goals.
"The sisters are just like me. We're females trying to get an education and make a difference," she said.
After she earns her public relations undergraduate degree in spring 2008, Herrera hopes to work in the sports, music and entertainment public relations field.
"There are not enough Hispanics breaking into corporate America," she said, adding that she hopes to be one of the Latinas who helps change that.
Herrera will be the first person in her family to graduate from a university. She is a role model for her two younger brothers ages 10 and 19.
"I do the best I can so they can do better," she said.
Not having an older sibling to help her with academic questions did not stop her from succeeding academically. She believes she deserves a good education and job, so for her failing is not an option.
Her parents have made many sacrifices to help their family and earning her degree will be a way for her to show them that she is grateful.
"I tell her the difficulties we were faced with and motivate her to take advantage of the educational opportunities she's given," her mother said, describing how she encourages Herrera.
Many who emigrate from Mexico feel that their cultural differences are a drawback from advancing in America, but Herrera encourages Latinos to focus on the positives about being different. Herrera embraces her culture.
"It's important to not see being Latino as an obstacle, but as an advantage," she said.
Story Published in the Daily Titan, Student Newspaper of CSU, Fullerton
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