Stories

From September 15 to October 15 each year, we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, histories, traditions, and cultural diversity of Hispanic/Latinx Americans whose heritage is rooted in over 20 Latin American countries and territories. Through assemblies, class speakers, and BUDEE activities, students learned what it means to be Hispanic.

One of our teachers, Laura Torres, generously shared her heritage with students in the early school. Laura, a Charlotte Prep employee since 2018, is a Pre-Primary assistant teacher in the Dandelion room. 

“I shared a very special part of my life with the children. When I was younger, my parents put me in a Mexican folkloric dance group that taught me about my culture and different traditions,” Laura said.

Laura brought her vestido de Jalisco to school (a dress from the state of Jalisco, Mexico). The children were able to feel it and point out different colors on the ribbons. She also played a popular Mariachi song from Jalisco. As the song played, the children joyously danced with the dress, watching it shimmer and bounce.

Although she is a native Charlottean, Laura’s Mexican roots run deep and she’s a proud member of the vibrant immigrant community in Charlotte. As the youngest child in a large family, she was raised to understand the importance of family bonds. They always come first. 

During family trips back to Mexico, Laura said she witnessed how poverty and danger can drive hardworking people to seek more for their families. Laura does not take life here for granted and hopes that sharing her culture at Prep can help dispel misconceptions that individuals may have about immigrants.