Sandburg’s Hispanic-Latino Student Association (HLSA) offers academic and social activities that benefit the Hispanic-Latino students at the college and throughout the community.
With National Hispanic Heritage Month being celebrated from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, we met with HLSA President Alberto Fernandez Do Carmo to learn more about the organization’s plans for Hispanic Heritage Month, the importance of it and the role HLSA plays at Sandburg.
In addition to serving as HLSA president, Fernadez Do Carmo — a native of Talavera de La Reina, Spain — is also a member of the Chargers men’s soccer team, Men of Distinction and the International Student Club.
To learn more about HLSA or other culturally focused clubs and organizations at Sandburg, contact Anthony Law, associate director of student engagement and leadership, at 309.341.5439 or alaw@sandburg.edu.
For people who aren’t familiar, what is HLSA?
HLSA is an organization we have here because we have a lot of people from countries in South America, like Colombia and Brazil, or European countries like Spain. It gives students from those Hispanic countries or who have Hispanic and Latino backgrounds opportunities to get involved at the college and have a better future. In Spain, something like this isn’t normal. We don’t have organizations at college to help other people who come from far away to get involved in the country and feel comfortable. I think it’s an important thing to have that helps a student say, ‘OK, I want to go there.’
Why is it important to have an organization like this for students?
It makes it easier for students with these backgrounds to make friends when they come here. We may have similar customs and similar cultures, even if we come from different countries.
What made you want to get involved with HLSA?
When I came here last year, I met with some other Spanish boys. I said, ‘If we are always talking Spanish, we are not going to learn English or do anything.’ I knew some people were from South America that were in HLSA, and they said, ‘Hey, get involved with us.’ It was a good way to help us improve our English.
How much English did you know when you first came here?
I knew a good level because I have studied English almost all my life in school. But I say that you never learn a language until you come to that country to talk. You can know the grammar, but you don't know how to talk with people until you are with them.
What are some events HLSA has planned for Hispanic Heritage Month?
One of the most important ones we do is when we go to (Steele Elementary School in Galesburg) to talk with the students there. Not everybody knows where Spain is or where is Mexico located on the map. So we try to talk with them and say, ‘Hey, the US is a big country, but you have more of the world to know, to explore.’ For me, Spain is the best country in the world. So I want to share with everybody that.’ We have a food event at Sandburg where people can try real Hispanic food. Also, we bring in tables and share information about Hispanic countries around the world. We want to have events to help people at the college learn more about where we’re from.
You're a member of the soccer team here. The team includes several players who are from many different countries, some Spanish-speaking, some not. How does that mix of perspectives help shape the team?
You have your own words in your country or your own language, but for soccer, you have universal words. Sometimes you don't even have to talk with words. You can make some sounds or something like that, and it's easy for me and the whole team. Like in all sports, it's global. We all know what we have to do. We have a very good family, and we’re all friends. We make plans off the field to spend time together.
Are there things that you learned about teammates from other countries that have helped you better understand their world?
Soccer is so different in different countries. For example, (sophomore Connor Mclauchlan) is from England. I learned a lot because the style of the soccer that they have in England is so different than in Spain. It’s the same with players Denmark or Sweden. So you came here, and you're always learning. You always can learn something about other people you meet.
From a personal standpoint, what does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
This month is important for us, because in the US they have their own customs. If we come here and show everybody how our lives are valuable in our countries, they can learn about those countries. Maybe some people will want to go to a country they have never thought about before. We want all the people here to know more about us, to know where we are from. It's important to have these events that we are having here. It’s always good to try to learn something different.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I invite all the people here at the college to come talk with us, to ask questions. You will never learn anything if you are silent or don't get involved. It's important for you to grow. We are here to study, and for some of us, we are also here to play a sport. But you have to do something more if you want to be a better person in the future.
In addition to his role as president of Sandburg's Hispanic-Latino Student Association, Alberto Fernandez Do Carmo is a captain on the Chargers men's soccer team.