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Hola! My name is Sarah Gonzales and I am from Muskogee, Oklahoma. I
graduated from OSU with a BA in Sociology. I plan on attending
graduate school to study minority issues. I hope that you find my
views on diversity useful in your college career. Viva la raza!
Half of what I
learned at college came from books, the rest from everyday life
experiences. I am happy at the way I lived my life during those
years at college and feel those times have benefited me immensely.
It wasn't so easy in the beginning however, to realize that one day
it would all come together.
The first day I was at OSU was one of the tougher times. I
can remember clearly my family pulling away, waving goodbye until
they were out of sight. Standing on the curb by myself, I wondered
how long I would last in this place. Being a Latina, I was used to
my family always being around for everything and this time I was on
my own. Many days growing up I wished that I could be with friends
and not have so much "family" time but I quickly realized how much
my family impacted me. I called home often.
There was a certain dream-like state in the first semester
because I now had total freedom and wasn't sure what to do with it.
My brothers and I had been raised strictly, I hadn't even been
allowed to date and now here I was with no one to tell me right from
wrong. I was scared to death of flunking out of school even though I
had always been a good student. The wrath put upon my brother by my
father when he left school was enough to give me a 3.5 my first
semester.
The first day I was at OSU was one of the tougher times. I
can remember clearly my family pulling away, waving goodbye until
they were out of sight. Standing on the curb by myself, I wondered
how long I would last in this place. Being a Latina, I was used to
my family always being around for everything and this time I was on
my own. Many days growing up I wished that I could be with friends
and not have so much "family" time but I quickly realized how much
my family impacted me. I called home often.
There was a certain dream-like state in the first semester
because I now had total freedom and wasn't sure what to do with it.
My brothers and I had been raised strictly, I hadn't even been
allowed to date and now here I was with no one to tell me right from
wrong. I was scared to death of flunking out of school even though I
had always been a good student. The wrath put upon my brother by my
father when he left school was enough to give me a 3.5 my first
semester.
From there on the Hispanic Student Association and other
diverse organizations were a major part of my life. I eventually
became President of H.S.A. and recruited others in the same way I
had been found, getting out and talking to people. Letting Latinos
know that there is a family that exists on this college campus. The
organization has steadily grown, we have a great advisor and great
leaders. Even though I have graduated I will always consider myself
a part of OSU and H.S.A.
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