National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of those whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. September 15th marks the anniversary of independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, while Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on September 16 and September 18.
Although people of color make up a growing proportion of U.S. society, students of Hispanic background are underrepresented in MBA programs, accounting for 9.4% of MBA enrollment. Four students share their perspectives on what it’s like to be Hispanic in The Wharton MBA Program for Executives: Erika Godinez, Christian Elebiary, Kristin Molano, and Jimmy Alvarez.
“Growing up as the child of immigrants, I oftentimes had to fend for myself,” says Godinez. “My parents left for work before the sun went up and didn’t get home until after dark, so my siblings and I cooked, cleaned, and looked after ourselves. Our parents weren’t sitting at the kitchen table helping us with math homework. That “fend for yourself” mentality is very much a part of Hispanic culture, in my experience.”
“Before I even enrolled in the program, I attended an admissions event on campus where I met Edgardo Jimenez. Seeing someone who looked like me that was successful and thriving in the program really sealed the deal for me,” says Alvarez. “I realized that I could do this, too. Now that I’m in the program, I’ve seen for myself how Wharton fosters an environment in which all students feel seen and heard.”
Read more at Wharton Stories.
