Hispanics around the country will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. It is a month to celebrate the Latin American independence days. It is also a time to get together with family and celebrate being of a different culture.

“To me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the Hispanic culture,” sophomore Juliana Ayala said. “And to also celebrate what it symbolizes and how it affects the U.S.”

It starts on Sept. 15 because it starts the anniversaries of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. Mexico and Chile’s independence day is in the following days.

To celebrate the anniversaries, many families go to festivals and parties to celebrate the independence days.

“My family gets together and we go to Kansas City, Kansas, and we go to a festival and celebrate,” Ayala said. “We eat Mexican food, listen to Hispanic music, interact with other Hispanics and we celebrate it on Sept. 16 for Mexico’s Independence Day.”

National Hispanic Heritage Month started in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson as Hispanic Heritage week. It expanded later by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, to a 30-day period.

Because of the history of the month, many families make it a tradition to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.

“I’ve been doing things for National Hispanic Heritage Month since I was little,” sophomore Marisol Guerrero said. “My parents decided to have celebrations with family and it became habit to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Like we go to parties at our friends’ houses and we all just celebrate being Hispanic.”

Because of traditions, Hispanic’s are proud of their heritage.

“I like being Hispanic because I’m not white, black or any other color, I’m Hispanic,” Guerrero said. “I’m different, I’m me.”

Guerrero and Ayala agree that being different is not a bad thing.

“I love being Hispanic,” Ayala said. “I’m different from a lot of people. I know how to speak a different language and a lot of cultural things are different. Our food, music and traditions are different and it adds to the fun of being Hispanic.”

Diversity Club is trying to get Mexican Folkloric dancers to come to the school and present a dance during seminar.

“I think it is a great idea that Diversity Club is trying to bring folkloric dancers come up to the school,” Ayala said. “It gives the students a little more insight on the heritage and traditions of Hispanic people.”

Diversity Club is trying to raise awareness about Hispanic Heritage Month by putting up quotes and facts around the school.

“The main purpose is to raise awareness for Hispanic Heritage month,” Diversity Club sponsor Jeff Wieland said. “We have never had an assembly for Hispanic Heritage Month. This month we are putting up posters to clear up the confusion of the independence days and Cinco de Mayo.”

Diversity Club plans to have a Mexican bake sale next week, and they are trying to have a small assembly during seminar before Oct. 15, so that Mexican Folkloric dancers and a Mariachi band can come and give a culture shock.