David Juarez, a junior from Saginaw, grew up with his parents telling him stories about his family's origins in Mexico. He said he takes pride in knowing about his ancestor Benito Juarez, the country's 26th President.

"He was a really influential leader back in his time, and inspires me to be the best leader I can be," Juarez said.

Students and staff at Central Michigan University were able to go back to their roots and rediscover a part of their identity in celebration of Hispanic Heritage month.

The month was an opportunity for people of Hispanic descent to take pride and celebrate in their culture. Juarez said he believes it's important to celebrate and maintain a link with one's familial past.

"There is a lot of pride in my heritage," He said."I think it's important to reflect back and always remember where you came from."

Both sides of his family are originally from Mexico, but have lived in America for generations. He strives to keep both cultures evident in his life as president of a registered student organization on campus, the Empowered Latino Union.

Juarez believes the atmosphere on campus is not always as welcoming as it could be. He said the university makes great strides with programs to enhance diversity acceptance, but the students at Central Michigan University could use a little work.

"I feel the student population on this campus isn't as open as it could be, Juarez said. "There are moments when I believe my ethnicity has sparked a different reaction than if I was another ethnicity. "

Students of other ethnicities joined in during Hispanic Heritage Month events to learn more about the cultures in the spanish-speaking world.

Kaitlynn Frayre, a junior from Mount Pleasant, is co-president of Spanish Club with Ashley MacDonald, a senior from Ludington. The two said even though they are not part of the Hispanic community, they can appreciate and enjoy the different cultures, especially after taking trips abroad.

Frayre and MacDonald said they believe having months that celebrate different ethnicities is a good way for people to educate themselves. Instead of learning, they said people often expect immigrants to drop their heritage when they move to America.

"Living in America, I would say we kind of expect people to conform to our ways and ideas," Frayre said.

Director of the Spanish Graduate Program María del Pilar Chouza-Calo said her Hispanic heritage is something she doesn't want to lose, it is a part of what makes her who she is.

"When immigrants come from other Latin American Countries they want to be part of a small community that represents them," she said. "You do want to mix in with the American culture, but sometimes you are a little hesitant to do that."

Chouza-Calo was born in Spain and moved to New York City when she was nine years old. One way kept her nationality alive was participating in a parade on Manhattan's Columbus Day Parade, Circulo de la Hispanidad, on Oct. 12.

"That’s how you maintain your roots, keep in contact with your culture," Chouza-Calo said.