Meet Point Community College Scholarship Recipient Hilary Cruz

Which community college are you currently attending?

I already transferred to SFSU, but I previously attended Skyline College.

Which program are you pursuing and what about the subject intrigues you most?

I am pursuing Spanish Language and Literature. I was born and raised in Guatemala, and history of Guatemala nor of Central American wasn't explained --it wasn't the core of my schooling. Therefore, I want to immerse myself in the history of Latin America, and connect with many of the ways Latin America continues to stay strong; poetry (literature) being one of them.

What are your education and career aspirations?

I am aspiring to become a Professor of Literature of Latin America with an Expertise in Poetry and LGBTQ+ Studies.

What is a fun fact about you that few people know?

A fun fact about me that few people know is that I constantly stumble when I walk.

What is your favorite book/movie/song and why?

My favorite book is Borderlands/The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldua. The author challenges herself of all those things that the world (society) tells her to feel proud of; being Chicana, speaking Spanish, etc. She challenges her identity, her ideologies, and by doing that, she pushes her readers to challenge themselves as well.

What is your current favorite streaming binge and why?

My current favorite show is One Day At the Time. I love how the characters unwrap who they truly, what truly makes them in the U.S., and how they confront their challenges with a sense of humor and responsibility.

In your spare time, what do you enjoy doing?

In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, discovering new places such as libraries that I hadn't been to, restaurants, and other things.

How are you practicing self-care during this difficult time?

During this difficult time, it took me some time to connect with myself again, but now I distance myself from social media in the mornings and evenings/nights, and I meditate and do writing.

How are you adjusting to remote life and what are your tips to stay motivated?

Adjusting to a remote life has been easy, I am just adjusting to it by being kind with my moods, and doing more things just than work, school, and staying home. There are many ways to stay motivated, so the trick is on finding the way that best works for you, and for me, going on walks, and practicing meditation under the sun works so well.

As a Point Community College Scholarship Recipient, what is your message to other LGBTQ+ students?

As a Point Community College Scholarship Recipient, my message to other LGBTQ+ students is to have fun and be kind to yourselves (because being kind is not easy, it is not easy to hug yourself in cold times when you're not used to it) not matter what challenges in life you would encounter. It's alright to fail in life because life is meant to be challenging, to challenge who we are, where we are, where we will go, others, our environment, and to learn. And remember to honor and respect your ancestors, to learn from their teachings and their mistakes, to honor and respect the history of the land where you're standing, this precious, powerful, kind, wild, and restless land that allows us to continue to move forward.

This post’s responses were submitted by Point Community College Scholarship Recipient Hilary Cruz (She/Her/Hers).

Cruz is currently pursuing a degree in Spanish Language and Literature at Skyline College. Read more about Hilary here.