The language of learning: How a co-president rose to the top
- La Voz Latina
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Escrito por: Alexa Figueroa 🇸🇻
Language is crucial to connecting with others, and Nicole Huillca connected through three languages—English, Spanish, and Quechua—when she was growing up.
When she returned from high school, she would say her favorite phrase “Imayantaq kachkanki” to ask how her grandmother was doing. She would also make sure she would "Mikhurquy," or "eat up," as she only knew Quechua.
Huillca, quien es peruana, asumió un papel importante durante su último año en la UMD. After years of dedication to The Coalition of Latinx Student Organizations (CLSO) and support from her friend Jhennifer Celestino Alva, she was asked to be co-president of the organization, a question that marked her journey at UMD.
“Now that I'm co-president, everything that has started at the beginning is paying off now,” she said.
Algunos de sus mayores logros como copresidente incluye organizar eventos for UMD’s Latine Heritage Month, specifically the opening and closing Gala.
“I definitely do think that being president of an organization alone is a difficult task, but I definitely am really glad about LHM and just CLSO in general,” said Huillca, who is a public health science major. “It's just something that I definitely do love more now.”
During her first and second years, she took part in the Global Public Health College Park Scholars Program, where she had the chance to take a family science course taught by Dr. Elisabeth Maring. She explained that public health covered a broad range of career fields, lo que alteró su percepción inicial de la especialidad porque pensó que se requería tener conocimiento previo de biología o química.
“That one course, if I had not taken it, I wouldn't have really gotten the encouragement to apply for it [the major],” she said.
Her summer internship at The University of Maryland Baltimore County's PATIENTS Program introduced her to other communities y le enseñó el valor de mantener una mente abierta ante los desafíos que otras comunidades pueden enfrentar.
“Globally, sometimes some issues are difficult to resolve, but one thing that I definitely did learn about public health is cultural competency, which is learning about different racial backgrounds and political views, religious beliefs, etc.”
In the future, Huillca wants to learn more about her indigenous roots and what traditions are native to the rural community her grandparents are from.
“My relationship with the language, I feel like, really does grow with my parents, and also, just with my culture,” said Huillca.
“Nobody is going to push you besides yourself.” - Huillca’s family
Comments