As Latinos impact the future of Miami, the future generations are shaping Miami’s high schools. At Immaculata-La Salle, it can be seen that the majority of the students are from Hispanic backgrounds. Their diverse backgrounds have infused the school in a way where people can learn to become open-minded in that ILS has created a community where students can show that their roots are important and should be celebrated.
Not only are there Spanish classes but there are multiple things that demonstrate the different cultures. Teachers and staff find a way to incorporate the essence of diversity.
Sage Dining (who serves ILS breakfast, lunch, and caters events) takes their time preparing wonderful food from all over. One day there might be Cuban food, another day will be Nicaraguan, and sometimes there is even Chinese, but that’s beside the point. All-American food here at ILS doesn’t always get the most attention, but when it comes to Hispanic food, the Latinos get excited.
An important event that teachers, the Spanish Honor Society, and the World Languages Department, with help from parents, put together is Feria Latina. Feria Latina has become a day where everyone honors people’s traditions from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and many more nations.
With this being said, here are a few members of the community to share their thoughts:
“I am Brazilian and I had no idea what to expect when coming to La Salle, but a few months in I was happy I chose to be here. I feel like most people are Venezuelan or Columbian, but there are actually a few people from Brazil and I overall just like how diverse it is here,” said senior Camilla Souza.
“I’m Venezuelan and coming to La Salle was a very good choice for me because most people are also Venezuelan but besides that, I can speak Spanish with students and teachers, plus I get to eat good food,” said senior Michelle Rodriguez.
“I am Columbian and coming to La Salle was the best decision because it is very diverse and I don’t ever feel out of place,” said senior Sofia Carvajal.
“I’m Cuban and not only do I love the food but one of my favorite days is Feria Latina because there are no classes that day and we just try food from a bunch of different countries and enjoy Latin music.” — senior Nicholas Dominguez.
Overall, the increasing Latino influence in Miami is reshaping schools like Immaculata-La Salle. The majority Hispanic student body has created a diverse and inclusive environment. From Spanish classes to events like Feria Latina, students here can experience multiple cultural experiences.
