There is always a huge wave of recognition brought during Hispanic Heritage Month. Posters go up everywhere, events are planned and people take the time to celebrate Hispanic and Latino culture. While I appreciate these celebrations, my identity isn’t something that I only think about during one month of the year. It helps shape how I move through classrooms, campus, friendships, work, athletics and leadership every day. 

As a Hispanic at Goshen College, I’ve often felt that feeling of balancing multiple worlds at once. On one side is the world of college: classes, research projects, professional expectations, leadership positions and planning for the unforeseeable future. On the other side are the values I grew up with: putting family first, working hard, caring for my community and remembering where I come from. Both sides have shaped who I am, but fitting comfortably into either one hasn’t always been easy. 

One of the most complicated parts of my identity is that I have the privilege of being born in the United States and being a U.S. citizen. Because of that, my experience is different from that of many immigrants and even some members of my own family. I’ve never had to navigate the uncertainty of immigration status or the challenges that come with arriving in a new country. 

I recognize that privilege, and I don’t take it for granted. At the same time, there have also been moments when I haven’t felt fully connected to every part of Latino identity. Sometimes I feel caught between expectations. In certain spaces, I’m seen as Latino first; in others I don’t always feel “Latino enough.” Whether it’s language, traditions, beliefs, culture or life experiences, I’ve occasionally questioned where I exactly fit. It can feel like standing between communities, belonging to both while also feeling completely understood by either of them. 

A phrase I’ve heard used a lot throughout Hispanic communities is: ni de aquí, ni de allá – “not completely from here, nor completely from there.” Growing up, I heard this phrase used a lot to describe the experience of living between different cultures. The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized how much I relate to it. For the longest time, I thought this feeling was something I needed to overcome, but now I see it as one of my biggest strengths. 

Living between different worlds has taught me how to listen. It has taught me to pay attention to perspectives that may be otherwise overlooked. Whether I’m leading campus events, conducting oral interviews for assignments, working with community member, or collaborating with classmates, I’ve learned that leadership starts with understanding people’s experiences before trying to speak for them. 

Because of my background, leadership has never been just about building a resume or collecting titles. It’s been about creating opportunities for others and helping create a space where people can feel like they belong. 

One lesson Hispanic culture has taught me is the importance of community. Success is rarely ever an individual achievement. Behind every accomplishment is a network of friends, mentors, community members and family members who helped make it possible. I carry that mindset into every leadership role I take on. When one person succeeds, it creates opportunities for others to succeed as well. 

I’ve also learned that representation matters. When students see leaders who share parts of their story or understand some of the challenges they are facing, it can make a campus feel safer and more welcoming. At the same time, representation is not about having all the answers but rather about showing up authentically, being willing to learn and creating space for others to be themselves as well. 

For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is not just about celebrating the past. It’s also about recognizing how our stories continue to shape the future. It’s an opportunity to honor the sacrifices, determination and resilience of previous generations while reflecting on how we can continue to build stronger communities. Belonging to two worlds doesn’t mean choosing one over the other. In fact, some of my greatest growth has come from living in the space between them. 

Rather than seeing those complexities as something that separates me from others, I’ve come to see them as the source of my empathy, leadership and perspective. If Hispanic Heritage Month has taught me anything, it’s that identity doesn’t have to fit neatly into a box. My story may not look exactly like everyone else’s, but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful. I’ve learned that I don’t need to choose between different parts of myself. Instead, I can embrace all of them and use those experiences to help create a stronger sense of belonging for others.