National Hispanic Heritage Month officially started on Sept. 15 and goes until Oct. 15. So what is Hispanic Heritage Month and why do we celebrate it?

Sept. 15 is important because it’s the anniversary of independence for many Latin countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. 

Students in the Diversity Club are celebrating this month with joy. People brought pan dulce or “sweet bread,” many Hispanic candies, and chips and salsa to a recent meeting. There was trivia centered around the background behind this month. 

The sponsor, Elizabeth Tarrant-Oliphant, says her students really want to affect change in the world.

“Not just our school community but in the community at large,” Tarrant-Oliphant said. “Diversity is celebrating the differences that make people unique, relevant, special and human.”

Junior Mikaylah Larkin, who is a member of the Diversity Club, enjoys being in the company of her peers. 

“It’s comforting to have a space to talk about your own and also to talk about serious issues that affect different minority groups,” Larkin said. “All of the members I think are open minded and understanding about it all which just adds to the whole atmosphere.”

Larkin goes on to talk about why it’s important to learn about Hispanic Heritage Month.

“I think it’s extremely important to teach and celebrate Hispanic heritage month because as a school we need to knowledge the history, traditions and the hardships the Hispanic people went through to become who they are today,” Larkin said. “Especially since it’s not taught in schools regularly.”