Andrew Torres
"...I really began to delve into my own culture as well. Who I am as a Puerto Rican man, who I am as a Brazilian man, and how can I ensure I keep this culture alive but also make an impact?"
Student Andrew Torres reflects on student organization Los Latinos Unidos and it's importance to Hispanic/Latinx students here at Stockton University.
I came to Stockton from North Jersey where diversity was the norm. Once I left that bubble it was a big adjustment to say the least. I began to not only see my peers in different ways, but I really began to delve into my own culture as well.
Who I am as a Puerto Rican man, who I am as a Brazilian man, and how can I ensure I keep this culture alive but also make an impact?
So, when I first saw the Los Latinos Unidos table at the Get Involved Fair, I took a jump to get involved in it. Almost immediately, I fell in love with the club and the family I would begin to build there. I was not alone anymore here; I was not alone in being a first-generation Latino who thought he could have fallen through the cracks of college life.
What makes me proud about being a Latino is the strong family bond. It motivates me to do more for our community here and beyond and to show those kids just like me that college is not impossible, that you can break those generational curses and begin a new trend of success in your family. That no matter where you go, who you meet and what you choose to study, we are right here with you, we are your family, we love you and we are proud of you. Hispanic Heritage Month is the beginning of the celebration of our heritage but not the end of all our hard work.
This Voice was originally published in 2021. At the time of publication, Torres was a Literature student and president of Los Latinos Unidos. Torres has since graduated and is now an alum of Stockton University.
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