Lynna Martínez on her graduation day with her proud family.

The Ohio State University is not only a place where I discovered myself, but a place where I began to appreciate the most important people in my life — my family. As I walked into the Ohio State Stadium on my graduation day, many thoughts raced through my mind. Friends had come and gone. I had endured stressful moments and moments of pure joy. I held back tears in my eyes as I touched my cap and gown and realized that what I had worked so hard for was finally happening four years later. I had accomplished my goal of graduating from college. My eyes searched the crowd for only two people, mi mamá y papá. I could see the pride in their eyes as they jumped up and down, waving their arms.

During my four years at Ohio State, I had the opportunity to become prepared to be the new professional and the strong Latina woman I am today. I benefited from the variety of opportunities available at Ohio State to develop academically, socially, and culturally. Yet, while at Ohio State, I also realized the enormous role my parents played in shaping me as a person. Their dedication to my cultural development and my memories in Puerto Rico made me proud to spread awareness about my culture. On the day of my graduation, I was able to see how my family, my culture, and my individual strengths came together to accomplish everything I had done.

I am a product of a home of strength, courage, leadership, and a dedication to education. Papá moved from Puerto Rico to Lorain, Ohio, when he was only a young boy. Although working in the steel mills was a common career for a Puerto Rican man in Lorain, he had other plans for himself. My father decided to enroll at The Ohio State University. While he was a student, my father was drafted to Vietnam and became a U.S. Marine. To this day he remains my hero.

My mother is the most compassionate person I know. Mamá was the one who encouraged Spanish in our home, because she saw this as a critical part of staying true to our roots. My mom began teaching elementary school in Puerto Rico and continued teaching in the United States. My mom wasn’t a typical teacher; she was one of those teachers who cared and did everything in her power to make students feel special.

My parents both continue to stress the importance of a good education for a person’s future. In 1983, my father developed a scholarship fund for Hispanics named Esperanza. The mission of Esperanza is to enhance educational and economic opportunities for Hispanic Americans. One of the ways Esperanza has continued to preserve cultural roots is through Viva La Salsa, an annual fundraiser to celebrate the Latin@ culture through music, art and dance. I never realized my father had worked so hard to make this one of the most celebrated Hispanic/Latin@ events in the city. My father received a deep joy from helping empower people of his culture, a lesson I have taken to heart.

When my parents dropped me off at Ohio State for the first time, I was so eager to be on my own that I forgot to say thank you. After Ohio State, I am starting a new life as a professional and they continue to be my main source of support. It was different when they left after graduation, as I wasn’t so anxious to see them go. I wanted them to stay a little while longer.