Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate, reflect and heal.
It’s when we honor the stories, sacrifices and spirit that have shaped generations of Latino families. But celebration also means reflection—acknowledging not just where we’ve come from, but what we continue to carry.
In the Latino community, we’re taught from a young age to be strong, to keep pushing and to never let anything break us. We hear phrases such as “échale ganas” (give it your all) or “no te rindas” (don’t give up) —words meant to inspire resilience but that can also teach us to hide what we feel. Many of us grew up in families where mental health wasn’t discussed. If you were struggling, you were told to pray, work harder or be grateful—anything but admit you were hurting.
This silence comes from love and survival. Our parents and grandparents faced hardships they couldn’t afford to break down from—crossing borders, working endless hours and building lives from nothing. They believed staying strong meant staying silent—and in doing so, we learned to bury emotions that needed to be felt.
Hispanic Heritage Month reminds us that our heritage is not only about music, food and tradition—it’s also about healing. It’s about recognizing that our stories include both joy and struggle, faith and fear, resilience and rest.
Mental health isn’t a weakness; it’s part of being human. Healing starts when you stop running from pain and begin accepting it—not as who you are, but as something that walks beside you. There’s no magic fix—it’s daily work: getting up, breathing and doing one small thing that helps you feel like yourself again.
Healing isn’t loud; it’s reading a few pages, going for a walk, calling someone you trust or resting without guilt. You can be hurting and healing at the same time. Acceptance doesn’t mean giving in; it means saying, “This is part of my story, but not the whole story.” That’s when things start to shift.
Loving your mental health doesn’t mean loving the pain. It means loving what it teaches you: discipline, growth and self-understanding. Struggle can push you to start therapy, get active or open up to loved ones. Struggling doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you’re alive and still fighting.
For our community, healing is an act of revolution. Talking about mental health, showing emotion and seeking help challenge generations of silence. Strength isn’t always keeping it together—sometimes it’s sitting with your pain and saying, “I’m still here.”
So this Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s honor our ancestors by doing what they couldn’t always do—by speaking, feeling and healing out loud. Because “échale ganas” doesn’t just mean push through. It can also mean take care of yourself, breathe and keep going—gently.
— Written by Ramon Rios, student VP for Latino Student Union (LSU). He is a junior and Business Administration major.
Take a moment
Take a moment today to check in with yourself, a friend or a loved one. CUW offers counseling for students that need it.
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Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.
CUW’s Counseling Center staff are here to provide caring, competent counseling to students, faculty and staff in a confidential setting whenever you need us. We even have a comfort dog, Runner, on staff if you need non-human companionship. If you are struggling, please know you are not alone. Reach out to the Counseling Center. We’re here for you in your time of need.