Goshen College’s Latino Student Union hosted its annual convocation on Wednesday morning in the Church-Chapel, bringing students, faculty and staff together to reflect on a series of personal stories and speeches.

The event featured Latino speakers who shared their experiences navigating cultural identity and finding a sense of belonging through affinity groups at GC.

Demetrio Garcia, a senior sociology major and the president of  One Circle, a group that educates the campus and wider community about Indigenous people and their ongoing struggles, opened the student speeches by reflecting on his time as a first-year.

Garcia first started college as a biology major with plans to attend veterinary school. But during his sophomore year he switched to his current major and realized biology was not the career path he wanted to pursue.

“I wasn’t finding joy in what I was doing. I felt disconnected,” Garcia said. “It felt like I was going through the motions without any purpose.”

He said that his involvement with One Circle contributed to the change. Garcia eventually became the group’s vice president in 2024 and is now serving his second year as president.

Alianna Reyna, a junior history pre-law major and vice president of LSU, spoke about growing up in a Mexican-American household and the challenges of understanding where she fit within her own cultural identity.

Reyna described feeling as though she was never fully included. She said, however, that her perspective began to change when she entered high school.

“I started to be more confident with my identity while I still dealt with, and still do to this day, people telling me that I am too ‘whitewashed’ for a Mexican woman,” she said.

Eventually, Reyna said she learned that her sense of belonging did not need to be defined by other people’s expectations.

“No matter how many names I get, or how many people say I speak Spanish with an American accent, I know who I am,” she said.

Harry Cruz, a sophomore criminal justice and restorative justice and history pre-law double major, reflected on his struggle with his Puerto Rican identity and the sense of disconnection he experienced from his culture because of his limited Spanish proficiency.

Through his involvement with LSU, Cruz began to embrace his cultural identity by learning the language and reconnecting with his roots.

“I would thank LSU greatly for being an impactful organization on campus,” Cruz said. “If you have ever seen me on campus, please feel free to speak Spanish with me. I promise, I’m always trying to reply to it, even if I’m going to be wrong.”

Laisha Arellano ’24 earned her degree in criminal justice at GC and now works as a paralegal at the National Immigrant Justice Center, where she helps provide immigration services. Reflecting on her time as an LSU leader, she shared how the organization helped broaden her interest in human rights.

“I’m not just talking about the Latino and Hispanic community. I’m talking about immigrants across the world that are facing injustices,” Arellano said. “So, I think we should celebrate Hispanic heritage month just as loudly.”

Nata Fontan, assistant professor of social work, closed the event by reflecting on how slowing down and paying attention to his surroundings helped him feel more self-aware.

“You don’t need an expensive plane ticket or a trip to a national park to connect with nature. Sometimes you just need to walk outside and start noticing stuff,” he said. “Sometimes, instead of feeling my life is just a series of things I need to accomplish, I’m reminded that being a guy is itself something worth noticing.”

He connected to LSU’s broader message of finding community and being present in spaces that go beyond home.

“My invitation to you is quite simple. Find a way to bring a little more nature into your ordinary life,” he said. “Maybe thriving begins when we become curious enough to recognize that life is really happening around us.”

Following the event, students gathered in the Fellowship Hall, where paletas were served and flags representing various Latin American countries were available for photos.