Civic and Community Engagement Commons^™

I Am Me, Vanessa C. Martinez

SURGE

You say my accent is interesting It shows I’m not you I don’t understand your words even though I grew up knowing I am me and you are you I guess what I’m saying is well, what do you mean? When you say that my accent is interesting Are you trying to get to know me or assign me an identity? Is the nopal que tengo en la frente a symbol too ambiguous to fully convince you? When you’re unsure, do my words comfort you? Because they are connected to the deserts and the cacti that are linked to the …

Bandidos Mexicano, Diego A. Rocha

SURGE

Twin day sounded like an innocent enough theme for Homecoming spirit week at a high school. It was just people wearing matching clothes, taking some pictures, and laughing a bit.

But that day, six girls walked to class in bright ponchos, giant sombreros, and stick-on mustaches, wielding fake green cards to boot. They were followed by a seventh with “Border Patrol” scrawled in black marker on a sign taped to her back. [excerpt]

Between Crazy And Fine, Annette Aguilera-Gonzalez

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As a young Latina, I grew up hiding the fact that I met with a therapist and that I suffered from depression and anxiety. Conversations about mental well-being or taking steps to cope with anxiety were non-existent in my community of friends and family. It was always a taboo topic, an area that we never touched. People were labeled as “crazy” and serious situations were swept under the rug. Seldom was I offered empathy or support. [excerpt]

Fearless Friday: Jasmine Matos, Jasmine S. Matos

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This week Surge is honored to highlight Jasmine Matos for Fearless Friday!

Originally from the Bronx in NYC, Jasmine is here at Gettysburg majoring in Health Sciences and minoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She now finds herself in her last semester at Gettysburg College and is trying to make the most of it. She’s the Captain of B.O.M.B. Squad, a member of the Black Student Union (BSU), a member of the Latin American Student Association (LASA), and she works in the Admissions Office. [excerpt]

Fearless Friday: Jasmine Santana, Christina L. Bassler

SURGE

In this week’s Fearless Friday piece, SURGE would like to spotlight Jasmine Santana ’16!

Jasmine is a currently a senior IDS major who focuses on socio-linguistics. In other words, she critically analyzes the use of language through various perspectives, such as from the point of view of Africana Studies or Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. A Latina woman from Washington Heights in NYC, Jasmine definitely felt a change in her surroundings once coming to Gettysburg. However, the presence of white-culture did not deter Jasmine from becoming the Fearless Leader we see today. [excerpt]