Every September 16, Dallas/Fort Worth Admin Assistant Citlali Vazquez gathers with her parents, aunts, uncles, cousins etc. to break bread together – typically Carne Asada is on the menu.
They put up decorations to match the colors of Mexican flag and to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. At every gathering, the younger generation stops what they’re doing to hear stories about how the older generation came to the U.S., the struggles they initially faced, and inevitably, the opportunities that they provided for those who followed. Citlali mentions this family tradition as just one example of what Hispanic Heritage Month (celebrated every Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in the US) means to her on a personal level.
Understanding people’s opinions, perspectives, and certainly their cultural backgrounds promotes positive workplace dynamics. It opens up eyes and invites empathy. Not only that: It celebrates diversity and respect, two key components to any successful workplace culture.
In light of Hispanic Heritage Month, Citlali and DFW Billing Coordinator Ashley Villatoro were kind enough to share a bit about their own heritage.
Heritage: It reinforces the importance of family.
Ashley’s mother came to the US from El Salvador at age 18. As a single mother, she wasn’t able to attend school but worked extremely hard to provide for Ashley. With this immense pillar of support, Ashley was able to earn a degree in Media Arts (with a minor in Sociology) from the University of North Texas.
“One of the values that has shaped who I am is very common to most of us, and that is family time and spending as much time possible with loved ones. Whether that is your family or your chosen family, family is important,” Ashley said.
The majority of Citlali’s family still resides in Mexico, though they host a group chat on WhatsApp to keep up with daily communication. Her own parents came to the US in 2000, just a couple of months before Citlali was born. Her older brother and sister often share stories about the tightness of money and the small job hustles it took to make ends meet.
“My Mexican cultural background heavily influences the importance of family. We are taught to care for our elders and young children from a young age,” Citlali said. “We are there for our family whenever someone needs us. We move as a unit.”
Heritage: It promotes gratitude.
Ashley says that she wouldn’t be here without the hardships and sacrifices others in her family have endured.
“I feel very lucky, grateful, and blessed to have earned a degree. My mom has not only been my number one supporter, but number one inspiration to have accomplished all I have so far in this life she worked so hard for me to have,” Ashley said. “The main thing is being grateful and not taking anything for granted. Always remembering that this life was paved by my family.
When Citlali reflects on her parents’ experiences, she, too, is overcome with gratitude.
“When I hear (my siblings’) childhood stories and compare them to mine, it made me grateful for what I had here. My parents had to work 40+ hours a week or two jobs to pay their mortgage, bills, and necessities for my siblings and me. This makes me appreciate my parents so much.”
Heritage: It propels us forward.
Two values from her heritage that Citlali brings with her every day to the office are hard work and respect. These two traits are both a product of her past and inspiration for her career moving forward at Datamax.
“My parents left Mexico with the intent of providing a better future for my siblings and me. Having that thought in my head makes me work hard in everything I do. I want to make them and myself proud of my accomplishments. Without them, I would not have come this far in life.”
