It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month!
In honor of this month, we at Sunshine State Counseling Center want to remember some of the
people that made a great positive impact towards the betterment of the Hispanic community and
the world.
https://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/inspiring-stories/hispanic-heritage-month-14-inspiring-figures
Julia Alvarez, author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the
Butterflies. Her writing was inspired by the struggles of being an immigrant to this country. She
is known as the best prolific writer of her generation.
https://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/inspiring-stories/hispanic-heritage-month-14-inspiring-figures
Dr. Ellen Ochoa, became the first Hispanic woman to travel to outerspace when she served a 9
day mission aboud the shuttle Discovery in 1993. She went on to complete a total of four
missions in outer space.
https://www.google.com/doodles/celebrating-felicitas-mendez
Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendes, a regular hard working couple who were both children of
immigrants were discriminated against when they tried to enroll their children into a local school
and were denied. They decided to fight against this injustice by suing the school district with the
lawsuit Mendez v. Westminster, and won.
Parents of Hispanic heritage, this is a great opportunity to connect with your children as you
learn about the history of your place of origin together. In the midst of the chaos, this is a great
way to get away from all of the noise and share a moment of learning together. It is important to
remind your children, and yourselves, your strengths and how resilient you are historically at
times of adversity to get through tough times like these. The historical figures mentioned above
are great examples of people who overcame obstacles and went on to become beacons of
hope in the Hispanic community.
Very Well Mind lays out some coping strategies you can use at home to increase your
resilience.
- Find a Sense of Purpose – In times of adversity, it can help your mental health stamina
by getting involved with a cause that holds a special meaning. For others, this may mean
discovering your spirituality, or engaging in other activities that are meaningful to you.
Julia Alvarez found meaning in her writing and has shared that gift with the world. - Nurture Yourself – Schedule a Nap! Getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep at night
is not a reality for most adults and sometimes children alike these days. Despite the
cultural norm of working like lab rats all day, it is proven to be healthier for you to take
time to rest, both physically and mentally. If a little sleep during the day is still not an
option take some time for meditation or prayer to re energize from within.
As Dr. Ellen Ochoa traveled to the stars, learn to imagine them for a few moments each
day. - Take Action – Look at the glass half full. Take small steps every day towards a solution
to the current issues you may be facing brings you closer to finding a resolution,
reducing your stress and making you feel you are in control. Stay focused on the
process you make so that you don’t become overwhelmed with the work that may still
need to get done. Celebrate every small victory along the way!
Just like Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendes, keep your eye on the goal and eventually you
will be successful.
References
Cherry, K. (2020, January 24). Use These 10 Tips to Improve Your Resilience. Verywell
Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/ways-to-become-more-resilient-2795063