Gene:
The spiritual practices of my family and community have evolved and thrived in the face of tremendous opposition, and they have nurtured a resilience in me to remain true to my heritage.
Haylee:
One of my favorite things about Puerto Rican culture is the fact that everyone is proud of who they are and proud to be Puerto Rican.
Antonio:
Representing Boricua and LGBT+ Pride, I am showing people that it is more than okay to be yourself and be proud of your life…with everything I do, I focus on representing myself and being a light in the culture.
Alyssa: I am motivated to use my training in nursing to help the residents of Puerto Rico affected by the healthcare crisis brought on by the devastating Category 4 Hurricane Maria of 2017.
Arianna: Many disasters have affected the island and the only logical, ethical response would be to assist those affected in their time of need.
Andrew: I love being and am proud to be Puerto Rican…However most of all I love the family values, food, and music!
Luis: Throughout my life, I was constantly reminded of our history and what we’ve survived, one of the main life values my family taught me is to “Seguir echando pa’lante” no matter how bad or how intense my situation may be. The mixture of this life mantra and resilience in which I inherited, makes me feel unstoppable like it is my unique superpower.
Nayeli: I plan to tell the history and beauty of being Puerto Rican. Keeping the culture alive is important because it is essential to teach others that we do exist and we matter with ancestry as wealthy as ours…I am not just another Latina: 'Yo Soy Boricua!'
Gianna: Puerto Rican tradition is unlike any other, and I’m proud to be Puerto Rican.
Alejandra: I’m proud of my heritage, it means that I am part of a culture of people that love deeply, are family centered, believe in a higher being, and in a manner of speaking, “buena gente”. I’m proud of my heritage and forever will be. “YO SOY BORICUA, PA’QUE TU LO SEPAS.
Mia: What I find most intriguing about my heritage is the different way we celebrate Christmas. When I was little, every Christmas my Guela (abuela) would take my sisters and I to this exact Puerto Rican Club where we celebrated the traditional Tres Reyes Magos every January 6. Being Puerto Rican is something to be proud of.
Lourdes:
Music is a part of the soul and everyday life of Puerto Ricans. It can be found in the daily lives of Puerto Ricans, influencing and shaping their experiences.
Jonathan:
I always feel the sense of community and the proud identity of being Puerto Rican.
Sydney:
Whether we’re white or black, curly hair or straight hair, at the end day we’re all Puerto Rican. There is no specific “look” that we need to abide by because we come in all different shades.