Alex, Music Performance, Freshman
"The Hispanic experience is not monolithic."
Alex feels a strong connection to his Mexican-American roots, but he’s tired of people seeing the Latino experience as a single story. Growing up in a Mexican household, he was surrounded by traditions, family stories, and values that he carries into everything he does. Yet people often try to box him in, assuming all Latinos have the same experiences, and he finds himself constantly pushing against this oversimplification. To Alex, being Latino is about a whole range of backgrounds and histories, not a single mold.
Although AU promotes diversity, Alex has noticed that the reality can be different, especially for students who feel underrepresented or misunderstood. He wants his story to open people’s eyes to the individuality within the Latino community, to show that every background comes with its own layers and unique experiences.
Alex hopes his story pushes people to look past stereotypes and see that “Hispanic” means something a little different for everyone who identifies that way.