2020 Winner: Graciela Grunkemeyer

Winning essay

A couple of years ago, my grandfather “Abuelo Hector'' developed a cough which didn’t go away for several months. Abuelo was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer shortly after,  despite being a non-smoker. However, Hector had worked in South Texas in a Petroleum and Coal Factory where many dangerous fumes were emitted. Sadly, he passed away about a year and half ago due to his terminal illness. His fight with cancer was the end of a lifelong struggle against adversity; being a recent immigrant, he battled daily to support his wife and four children including my mother, and he never gave up. As a child, my mom went to an english-speaking school and lived in a spanish-seaking home. She was also athletic and loved to run, but her parent’s inability to afford school sports never allowed her to join one. Despite her difficult circumstances, my mom attended a four year college, completed dental school, and is now a dedicated marathon runner.

I started cross country because I come from a family of runners, and it seemed the most logical sport to join. I began as a passive participant, and ended as a passionate competitor. I was always grateful, because participating in a school sport is something my mother had no opportunity to do as a child.  Throughout highschool, running has given me friends, stress relief, but most importantly it has taught me valuable lessons. As a 4-time cross country state competitor, I developed perseverance through sweat, tears and hardwork.  

After reflecting on the generations before me and the adversity they faced, I have decided the best way to discover who I am is by educating, empowering, and engaging other Latinos through service. At Beechwood, there is a large percentage of Latino students whose parents speak little to no English; as a result, these kids struggle in school and often end up getting into trouble.  It is difficult for Beechwood’s white families to connect to Hispanic families due to the language barrier and the socio-economic difference. As an Individual Service Project for National Honor Society, I organized a Hispanic Mentorship Program because I knew that my cultural understanding as a bilingual half-mexican female would be useful in integrating both groups. Through this program, Hispanic families are able to connect through fun activities, parents can ask mentor families when they need help with something school-related, and students receive tutoring with NHS members. My sophomore year, I also helped a group of 5 hispanic United States residents practice and study for their Naturalization test so they could get full citizenship. 

The Hispanic Mentorship Program has brought me so much joy and has helped me discover who I am. Through the sports, service, and circumstances I’ve faced in my life I’ve discovered my identity. I am a half-Mexican woman who perseveres despite difficulties, understands her family’s past, and wants to help other adversity-faced Latinos achieve the goals they otherwise might never have been able to reach.