Column: USC Latinx graduation recognized the culture and pride of Latino students

The University of Southern California (USC) Commencement Week took place last week on campus and at the L.A. Coliseum without incidents. Despite the protests that have been going on in the past weeks, the private university hosted more than 100 commencement events between May 8 and 11 to celebrate the conferral of over 18,000 degrees. 

Many students, including myself, were eager to participate in some of these celebrations, which highlighted our hard work to achieve another milestone in life. Without diminishing the power of the protests, many graduates were excited to attend their college or ethnic graduation after the main graduation was canceled. Instead, there was a short event at the L.A. Coliseum for the graduates and their families on May 9 with drones, the USC marching band and fireworks. 

In my case, I attended both the USC Latinx Graduation on May 9 and that of my college on May 10, the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. As a first-generation graduate, both were important to me, but the Latinx graduation had a very special meaning as it felt more dedicated to our parents.

The 2024 USC Annual Latinx/e Graduation kicked off with a cheerful opening with samba dancers and drummers. Then, a few remarks in Spanish were dedicated to the graduates' families, with the program continuing with the USC Afro Latin-American Jazz Ensemble (ALAJE) and the Los Troyanos de USC mariachi. Lastly, about 500 Latino students, graduating with their Ph.D., Masters and Bachelors, received a diploma recognizing their education. 

Dreams come true

I was delighted to share such a special moment with my family, including my child, but mainly with my mother, who couldn’t hide her tears of joy as she saw me walking on stage, twice. She migrated to this country in 1991 and we lived close to USC. The campus was like our backyard patio as it was less populated, and it wasn't gated. My siblings, cousins and I would enjoy playing on the grass or across the street at the Exposition Park Rose Garden and the L.A. Coliseum. We knew those were the safe places to have fun. As a young adult, I often ran at the USC track and field that opened in the evenings to the community. At that time, I could only dream of attending such a prestigious university. 

As years passed by, I was able to attend USC as a guest student while studying at L.A. Trade Technical College. Once I became a journalist, I worked part-time as a journalism instructor at USC Annenberg and I was a collaborator for the USC Center for Health Journalism. Although those were significant moments in my life, graduating with my Master of Communication Management degree was a reminder of how I returned to the place I once enjoyed as a child. As a former DACAmented student, I learned many times that dreams do come true, and last week, I reinforced that thought.

Leaving a legacy

Jose Romo, 22, the co-founder of Los Troyanos de USC, assured that performing at the Latinx graduation was a unique experience. He said he was very proud to be surrounded by hundreds of graduating students who looked like him and made him feel at home.

"It was an honor to be able to perform in front of other students and family and friends," he said.

There was a massive ovation and tears of emotion from some guests when Los Troyanos sang Vicente Fernandez' "Volver, Volver" and "Amor de los Dos," followed by Alejandro Fernandez' "Como quien pierde una estrella.". There was a special feeling knowing that such a prestigious university like USC was highlighting Mexican heritage through music. 

Romo was one of my journalism students in 2022, and seeing him on stage made me feel very proud of him and the younger generation. Academically, he not only showed exceptional work as a student journalist, but while at USC, he also showed pride for his Mexican American culture by co-founding Los Troyanos de USC in 2021. 

That same night of the Latinx graduation, there was the “Trojan Family Graduate Celebration” at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with a drone and fireworks show to celebrate the entire Class of 2024. The event attracted about 22,000 students and their families and it was the alternative for the main-stage graduation ceremony, scheduled for May 10, that was canceled. The main commencement was expected to attract up to 65,000 people. However, USC leadership felt the pro-Palestinian protests on campus jeopardized the safety of students and visitors. 

Protestors installed tents on campus in late April demanding USC to cut ties with Israel. This was the result of the tension stemming from the Israel-Hamas war. On May 5, a few days before graduation week, USC cleared the encampment and added new security measures to access the campus.

Romo, of Mexican parents and a native of Salinas, California, received his Bachelor's in Journalism. He said it is very important for the students protesting to have their voices heard. Nonetheless, allowing students to have an actual graduation and celebrate with their loved ones is equally important, mainly for those who couldn't attend their high school graduation in 2020 due to the pandemic. He was very grateful that both of his graduations went well without any disturbances. Now he is planning his move to Nevada as he will start his new job as a reporter for Univision Nevada. 

It's never too late

Marina Sandoval, 47, also attended the Latinx graduation, and received a Master of Science from the USC Bovard College. She said she always wanted to attend USC but when she tried to apply for her Bachelors she wasn’t accepted. However, that idea never left her head and when she realized having a Masters degree could help at work, she tried again and was accepted. 

Now, she gracefully remembers the wise words of her dad, who passed away 16 years ago. "My dad always reminded me that it was never too late to go back to school and follow my dreams," said Sandoval.

The mother of two girls, ages nine and five, said the work was difficult, and now she can truly understand and appreciate the hard work parents do for their children. Her objective is to continue climbing the ladder in her job in the restaurant industry. 

"Having an amazing familia, amigos, educators, mentors and peers has helped me to FIGHT ON!" Sandoval wrote on social media with photos of her graduation.

Sharing this special moment with Sandoval was very exciting for me, too. We have known each other for nearly two decades. We both graduated from Cal State Northridge with our Bachelor's degrees in Journalism and last week, we both graduated with our Masters from USC. 

Seeing so many students of color graduate from USC made me realize once more that we continue breaking barriers. We attend prestigious universities, and we celebrate our culture and traditions at graduations with our families. We are our parents’ American Dream and the future generations' role models.