Being Hispanic is not just selecting the checkbox on forms, it means connecting with peers and family through shared values. I have connections to Spanish roots, and it is important to me to learn Spanish because it is part of my history. Not only to learn it just because of history but to connect to that aspect of myself. Being from a rural area where many people speak Spanish it is a part of the community sharing the ability to speak another language. However, with the newer generations the language is being lost and not being taught anymore. It is sad to see because an amazing part about being Hispanic is the amazing opportunity to learn a language passed down throughout generations. When I was little my family had always encouraged me to try and learn Spanish and at the time I did not really take it seriously because it just seemed too difficult and extra work for me. However, now that I have grown up, I see that learning to speak Spanish was not about making me learn it just because, but it was to help me connect with others in the community and learn my heritage from my family. At school many of my friends speak Spanish as a first language and it is amazing to see how a language can make no sense to someone who is unaware of it but being able to understand majority of what they say allows me to interact with them and be a part of something that I can apply to other aspects of my life. It is amazing to see how languages also vary depending on the area. Being that Spanish is from Spain there are certain words that vary in different regions, and it is cool how the Spanish in my community varies from that origin. Many different cultures have different traditions. Every year with my family we go get green chile roasted and then spend half the day peeling it and bagging it. Just like my family telling me to learn Spanish I thought that peeling and roasting green chile was something that everyone did but looking into it I got to see that it was something unique that I got to do with the people I enjoy spending time with. Being able to cook recipes passed down throughout my family is a fun way for me to connect with my Hispanic heritage and keep it in practice rather than letting it disappear. Nowadays it is easy to just look up instructions on how to make something off the internet, but it is different when you're learning from those close to you. Those who connect the recipe you're making to memories and make new ones by passing down that recipe rather than blatantly following step-by-step.