Latin American Heritage Month – Culture and Family

 

Good morning, everyone! My name is Pablo, and I’m a Grade 12 student in Ripley’s House. I’d like to kick off my speech with a story. At the beginning of the year, I felt undecided about which classes to choose. However, there was one class I knew I definitely wanted to take: AP Spanish.

 

Now, I know what you might be thinking – I just wanted to score high without putting in much effort. And honestly, you’re completely right! But there’s another reason I chose this class that I’d love to share with you. As a proud Spanish speaker and Spaniard, being in that class was a special experience for me. I had the opportunity to discuss topics in my first language while sharing a part of my culture with others. I love living in Canada, but as someone from a different background, this class felt like a place where I could truly be myself.

 

When you arrive in a new country, you encounter diverse worldviews, but you always carry your own culture with you – it's what makes you unique. It shapes your decisions and influences how you see the world. I’m sure all the Grade 12 students in English First Peoples get what I mean by “worldviews” better than anyone in this room. 

 

As someone from two different Spanish-speaking backgrounds – Spain and Peru – there will always be differences between these two cultures. But when we talk, we often find we have more in common than previously thought. When I first arrived at Shawnigan, my first friends were Ale, a Grade 11 in Lake’s, Leo, a Grade 10 in Copeman’s, and Seb, our current Co-Head of School. None of them were in my House, but it was so easy for me to connect with them. I like to picture us having a profound discussion about the political situation in Venezuela and the rampant inflation in Argentina. Ok, nobody would believe this, so let’s keep it real. In reality, we were passionately debating who’s better –Cristiano or Messi – in a chaotic mix of Spanish and wild hand gestures at one of our first barbecues. It was the kind of heated discussion that could’ve sparked a reality show, complete with dramatic music and slow-motion meat flips! Still, it was easier for me to connect with them over that than anything else – nothing like a little football rivalry to bring Spanish people together.

 

Culture matters; it defines who we are. As a proud member of the Spanish community, I’m excited to celebrate our identity this month.

 

 

Canada is sometimes called a “melting pot” for its diversity, but in reality, that melting pot includes the entire world.

 

Our diversity is our strength. It is reflected in the many languages spoken, the traditions celebrated, and each unique perspective shared in the communities we live in, whether that’s through music, dance, food, or celebrations of any kind. Hispanic culture colours our lives no matter who you are or where you come from. 

 

When we honour our past, we also look into the future. We’re in charge of making the next generation familiar with their heritage and proud of their identity. We’re dedicating ourselves to a future where diversity and cultures are celebrated not only a month per year, but every day. 

 

Family is one of the most important elements of Hispanic culture, and Shawnigan lake School is one of the biggest families we’ve known. And that is most definitely something to celebrate. So, this Latin American Heritage Month, we not only celebrate Latin American culture but the family it creates and the family we find all around. Thank you, Shawnigan.