Hear from our students in the College of Human Sciences on why their Hispanic/Latinx heritage is an important part of their Texas Tech experience.
What is your major?
My major is Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management (RHIM).
When do you graduate?
I will be graduating in December 2021.
What brought you to the College of Human Sciences and Texas Tech?
The RHIM program is what brought me to both Texas Tech and Human Sciences. I had a difficult time deciding where I would be attending college. After visiting Texas Tech and learning more about the hospitality opportunities I would have, I was completely sold on coming here. I felt like I would fit in perfectly in this type of environment.
Does your heritage allow you to bring a different perspective to your classes, campus activities, and academic work?
I have always been so grateful for being able to use my Mexican heritage in a way that allows me to show others a different perspective than they are commonly used to. In my classes, I have always used my knowledge to aid in class discussions. During my consumer behavior class, my professor was explaining many differences between her country and the United States when it comes to consumers. I was able to join the discussion by mentioning how the consumers in my country are different from those other two.
When it comes to campus activities, I have always used my Mexican heritage to take advantage of the fact that I am able to speak Spanish. As a part of the President Select Ambassadors, I give tours of Texas Tech to prospective students. On a few occasions, I have had families begin a conversation in Spanish with me. I really enjoy when this happens because I understand there are some people who are outstanding English speakers but simply prefer to speak Spanish because they are able to express themselves better. I felt this way when I first began learning English.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
I believe that Hispanic Heritage Month means celebrating and recognizing all Hispanics who are not in their country. It is an opportunity for all people to learn more about Hispanic culture. Hispanic Heritage Month helps dispel known stereotypes about Hispanics showing we are more than what other non-Hispanics perceive us to be. Through Hispanic Heritage Month, we are able to celebrate our ethnicity, background, culture, and traditions.
What hands-on learning experiences are built into your degree? Can you tell us about any of those past experiences?
There are many hands-on learning experiences built into the Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management degree. The first one would be our introduction to the food production lab. This lab focuses on teaching students how to cook different types of food from a recipe. I really enjoyed taking this class because I had never cooked something out of my comfort zone before this lab. Now I have expanded my own menu to new types of recipes. Another hands-on learning experience built into my degree is the dinner series class. This is a class where students learn how to run every aspect of a restaurant. Which I am currently taking and learning new things each week. I have attended previous dinner series and I was impressed with what those students prepared.
What are your career goals and how does your degree support those plans?
My immediate career goals are to start graduate school this spring. I am planning to pursue a master's degree in hospitality. My degree supports these plans by giving me an exhaustive background in hospitality. My degree also requires 1200 hours of work experience. This requirement has aided me by allowing me to expand my areas of experience from restaurants to hotels. After finishing my degree, I am wanting to go into the Resort Industry because I have always enjoyed traveling. One of my hopes is to experience part working at a Mexican resort to promote Mexico's tourism. Another hope I have is to be able to travel to different areas of the world to learn more about other countries and cultures.