The Latino Student Organization (LASO) proudly promotes and supports Harvard Business School’s Latino students and works alongside the Latino Alumni Association (HBSLAA). Representing a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, interests, and Latino heritage, LASO members spearhead initiatives related to MBA Admissions, alumni engagement, career development, and more to advocate for and empower the Latino community on campus and beyond.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked LASO members to share what being Latino at HBS means to them.
I have always felt like I was part of something. Despite being an only child, my home was always full of energy and activity, with cousins coming over for playdates and aunts and uncles stopping by to chat with my grandmother, ensuring there was never a dull moment. However, as I grew older, I began to understand that family was about much more than just company and fun visits; they represented unwavering strength and support. For example, when my grandmother passed away, I witnessed my extended family come together, stronger than ever, to support one another through the loss of a matriarch. When I got accepted to Northwestern University for undergrad, my family came together to celebrate me, help me pack, and even drove down to Evanston to help me move in. While most kids took a couple of days to get settled into their dorms, I was moved in within a couple of hours —thanks to seven (!!!) family members helping me. As you can imagine, seven people in a room moving furniture and unpacking clothes was absolute chaos. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
In my adult life, I’ve strived to mirror the support my family has given me throughout the years in all communities I am a part of. I want to leave spaces better than they were before me: to give as much as I take, teach as much as I learn, and help as much as I’ve been helped. To me, being Latina means that I will always have the support of my family and community, but also that I have a responsibility to support others whenever I can. It means that I will never take for granted the love that I’m constantly surrounded by, and that I’ll work to make sure others know what that feels like in their own lives. Most importantly, being Latina means constantly and actively remembering that love, support, and community are not just gifts to cherish but legacies I am committed to passing on to others.