Rachel Ramirez-Hammond

Putting together an issue of Qué Pasa is much like the process of growing beautiful flowers. Claudio Pasian (featured on the cover) spends the winter carefully tending to plants in the greenhouse so that they are ready to bloom and bring color and beauty to the spring. We here at Qué Pasa spent the winter in our “greenhouse” at Lincoln Tower, preparing this colorful issue full of new information to be ready for you when spring finally arrives. Winter is always a time for reflection on the present and preparation for what is to come. As the leaves grow back on the trees and the sun shines into the evening hours, it is hard not to think of renewal and the future ahead. We can put away the winter coats and hats and mittens, and get ready to enjoy the fresh, new feeling that comes with spring.

For some of us, the Spring Quarter will be the last one at Ohio State, as we prepare to graduate. Others are wrapping up their first or second year, and reflecting on the changes that have occurred over this year of growth. For the past four years, Qué Pasa has been featuring new Latin@ freshmen and asking them about their expectations. We had the opportunity to catch up with several of these students, and learn about how their experiences at Ohio State have been. Some of these students have only been at Ohio State for a quarter, some are in the middle of their Ohio State careers, and some are graduating and moving on to new and exciting stages of their lives. We hope that their comments provide you with a flavor of Latin@ experiences at OSU. Students address how their expectations have or not have been met, what their best experiences at Ohio State and their biggest challenges have been, and what they wish the would have known when starting their career at Ohio State.

Mi experiencia features Juan Garcia’s story. Mi experiencia aims to dispel the myth that all Latin@s are the same, and puts a personal face on the many, many different backgrounds, upbringings, priorities, characters, and realities of Latin@s. Juan describes his transition from his small hometown in Mexico to his current life in Columbus, and talks eloquently about his exposure to different lifestyles and mindsets. He reflects on his transition from a culture where the role of an individual is based on the common good to a culture that stresses the primacy of the individual in a competitive environment.

In another section, Qué Pasa elaborates on all of the opportunities that Ohio State provides for learning outside the classroom. Our article addresses very real issues for all students regarding their social life and financial decisions. College students have the freedom to make choices in both of these arenas, but unfortunately, sometimes students make choices that end up having serious consequences. Ana Berríos-Allison focuses on the importance of not simply choosing a career at Ohio State. She challenges us to “do what you love, so you will love what you do” and offers tips on figuring out your calling.

In this edition, you will also learn about what faculty, staff, and students have been doing at Ohio State over the past quarter. The University-wide Council of Hispanic Organizations (UCHO) held a conference on graduate school, aimed at preparing more Latin@ to continue on to graduate programs. The Organization of Hispanic Faculty and Staff (OHFS) has provided updates on their efforts to bring Latin@ cultural events to the Ohio State campus. Finally, the Hispanic Oversight Committee (HOC) shares information on efforts it has been supporting that address issues of concerns to the Latin@ community at Ohio State.

As you enter the last quarter of the school year, Qué Pasa wishes you the best of luck and success, whether you are headed to a new job, graduate school, a summer position, or back home once the school year ends. We look forward to seeing you back on campus in the fall!