Across Sacred Heart University, Latin American students from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Honduras, and beyond are sharing their stories and traditions. Though united by language and shared values, each brings distinct flavors, rhythms and family customs that reflect the diversity within the Latin community, one that can’t be defined by a single label.
Senior Katelyn Díaz, the daughter of Dominican immigrants, said identity is lived through family, faith and community.
“My family is originally from the Dominican Republic, and my culture is such a big part of who I am,” said Díaz. “Growing up in a close-knit Hispanic household taught me the importance of family, faith, and community, all values that I’ve carried with me to SHU.”
Díaz serves on the executive board for La Hispanidad, sits on the Student Nurses Association e-board, and works as both a Student Ambassador and Global Ambassador. She previously tutored chemistry and now interns with Make-A-Wish, experiences she says have deepened her appreciation for connecting with people from all backgrounds.
“Through all of these roles, I’ve realized how much my background helps me connect with people on a personal level,” said Díaz. “It’s something I really cherish.”
Food and music anchor that connection. Díaz often cooks Dominican dishes like rice, beans, chicken, steak, tostones, maduros and empanadas for her friends. She’s found local restaurants that remind her of home and says her favorite meal, sancocho, always brings her back to family gatherings.
“My friends love learning to cook and dance merengue and bachata,” said Díaz. “It’s become something fun we do together.”
Sophomore Hillary Rivera, whose mother is from El Salvador and father from Honduras, says that her Central American heritage has also shaped her outlook.
“One of the biggest things I feel that people generalize from having family in Central America is assuming they came here illegally or had some sort of gang violence,” said Rivera. “Growing up I was asked if my parents were legal or if I knew someone in MS-13. I was in fifth grade being asked questions no fifth grader should ever be faced with.”
Rivera stays connected to her roots through the Agape Center and La Hispanidad, two campus spaces she describes as welcoming and empowering.
“Those spaces help me stay connected to who I am while I’m studying at SHU,” said Rivera.
For both Díaz and Rivera, the holidays are a reminder of how culture and family remain at the heart of their identities. Díaz described Christmas as her favorite time of year and a celebration filled with prayer, dancing, laughter and food.
“We do a huge Secret Santa with all my cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles,” said Díaz. “It’s hectic and loud, but it’s one of my favorite traditions and creates the best memories.”
Rivera said she also feels that same sense of closeness in the Latin community at SHU. Through groups like La Hispanidad and the Agape Center, she’s found connection, understanding and a space to embrace who she is.
Both students agree that while Hispanic culture is often viewed as one collective identity, each country carries its own beauty.
“Here, I’ve found people who genuinely want to learn what makes each culture unique,” said Díaz. “That openness is something I’ll always be grateful for.”
As the semester winds down and holiday lights begin to shine across campus, students like Díaz and Rivera carry their traditions with pride from cooking familiar meals to celebrating Nochebuena surrounded by family. In their stories, Sacred Heart’s Latin community finds what makes it truly
special: a shared love of home, heritage and togetherness.
