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Findings: Themes from Songs of the Hummingbird
Below you will see images from the themes identified from the Songs of the Hummingbird cohort. These findings are a result of over 45 hours of critical discussion and 54 photos taken.
As a result of this process we identified 10 themes regarding how we define Latinx student success and how Sac State, as our HSI, can serve us. Each theme consists of representative photos and a collectively constructed narrative. These themes, and their representative photos and narratives, are presented below.
Click on each theme to be taken to a page to view each picture more closely and read the accompanying narrative.
Themes from Songs of the Hummingbird
Click on each theme to be taken to a page to view each picture more closely and read the accompanying narrative.
Theme 1: Developing ourselves outside of academics
The college experience is a unique journey for every individual. It's not just about academics, but also about discovering and exploring different aspects of ourselves. As we navigate through new experiences, we gain a deeper understanding of who we are and what we want. We make connections with others, learn about different cultures and perspectives, and grow as individuals. Our communities of friends, roommates and family are important to us and keep us sane through our academic journey. The college experience is a time of self-discovery and personal growth, where we learn to embrace our individuality and challenge ourselves to be the best version of ourselves.
Theme 2: Where are the resources we pay for?
There are many resources here, but students may feel overwhelmed because they do not find what they need or are not aware of opportunities they can take advantage of. This is true regardless of if they are new or have been pursuing academic journey for more time.
Access to resources depends on the following:
Student exposure to resources
Colleges and majors have different resources, such as tutoring or internships.
Stigma around certain resources, such as counseling services or CARES ASI Food Pantry, sometimes students are afraid to ask.
It can be difficult to use some of the resources because we don’t always know how to find them or they are hidden to us. We have the Sac State app, Canvas, and the website - too many places, where do we go to find resources?
Although Sac State offers a lot resources they need to have more exposure so that we can reach and access them.
Access to resources depends on the following:
Student exposure to resources
Colleges and majors have different resources, such as tutoring or internships.
Stigma around certain resources, such as counseling services or CARES ASI Food Pantry, sometimes students are afraid to ask.
It can be difficult to use some of the resources because we don’t always know how to find them or they are hidden to us. We have the Sac State app, Canvas, and the website - too many places, where do we go to find resources?
Although Sac State offers a lot resources they need to have more exposure so that we can reach and access them.
Theme 3: We are more than just students
Yes, we are students but we have other identities and roles that we carry and bring with us. Such as being a mother, athlete, babysitter, family translator. We juggle family, school, and work, among other things. The institution’s expectations of what a student is does not match our realities! We take care of ourselves and have many responsibilities. We are individuals who have other things going on outside of school that make us who we are.
Theme 4: We need a space to embrace our cultures
Sac State needs to support Latinx students in helping them connect to each other by providing designated spaces for students to learn about their culture. These spaces need to be more central in location and activities need to happen at them. Having these spaces will create a safe environment to feel comfortable to raise our voice and develop an appreciation of who we are and our culture.
Theme 5: Safety
During the fall of 2022 students initiated a discussion to address the repeated sexual assults on campus. We worry that if students did not start the conversation the campus would have not acted.
We know there are resources on campus like the emergency poles, and Hornet Safety Escort program. Yet, many of these resources do no go far enough. For example, the Hornet escort service doesn’t align with evening class schedules, how can more people be hired? We need more lighting on campus. Why do we need to go through all these forums and emails for change? Where was the prevention? We have seen the campus say they will address these issues but we are worried that actions have not followed the campus discussion. How many more incidents need to occur before we are made to feel safe?
We know there are resources on campus like the emergency poles, and Hornet Safety Escort program. Yet, many of these resources do no go far enough. For example, the Hornet escort service doesn’t align with evening class schedules, how can more people be hired? We need more lighting on campus. Why do we need to go through all these forums and emails for change? Where was the prevention? We have seen the campus say they will address these issues but we are worried that actions have not followed the campus discussion. How many more incidents need to occur before we are made to feel safe?
Theme 6 Representation of the Latinx culture is needed in our classroom
We need more representation of our Latinx culture in our classrooms and curriculum. We need more professors who reflect the diversity of our student body and who can bring unique perspectives and cultural knowledge. We need to have more of our culture represented in our curriculum in terms of readings, discussions, and activities. Although many of us have found this happening in Ethnic Studies, we need this all areas.
Professors need to include their students’ backgrounds in the issues and topics they teach. We also need for our professors to use language that connects to us and that we can understand. Some of us expressed having a connection to certain professors who worked to create meaningful relationships with us.
Professors need to include their students’ backgrounds in the issues and topics they teach. We also need for our professors to use language that connects to us and that we can understand. Some of us expressed having a connection to certain professors who worked to create meaningful relationships with us.
Theme 7: Improving our classes for student success
Our professors need to not only teach the material for the class but also help students learn about the resources and events on campus. They also need to be provided training on how to more flexible and compassionate towards students needs - recognizing that they are more than a student in their classroom. They need to humanize the learning experience. Our goal is to graduate but unsupportive faculty create barriers that add to the overall difficulty of our academic journey.
Additionally, classrooms do not serve us. Classrooms do not provide an environment that we can thrive in. Often small desks do not allow for us to use our computers and notepads at the same time and the chairs are uncomfortable. Our classrooms need to have more culture inside of them. We can include the art and beauty that we see outside the classroom, inside, to create a more inspiring environment.
Additionally, classrooms do not serve us. Classrooms do not provide an environment that we can thrive in. Often small desks do not allow for us to use our computers and notepads at the same time and the chairs are uncomfortable. Our classrooms need to have more culture inside of them. We can include the art and beauty that we see outside the classroom, inside, to create a more inspiring environment.
Theme 8: Hustle Culture
It feels like we make school our whole life and it is chaotic and overwhelming. University initiatives like finish in four, push us to make impulsive decisions and push us out. It is a bit much and we forget that we are more than just students. We forget that it is okay to be unproductive and not just be a student. This university reinforces this when you get penalized if you do not graduate the year you claim. In our culture we hustle and don’t take breaks or prioritize mental health. We put a lot on our plate and it’s natural to be really busy. It’s not natural to not do anything - that makes us feel lazy. We are so busy we don’t pause and appreciate ourselves and our accomplishments. No matter how hard the outside world is on us, we still rise, we overcome, we succeed, we push through. There are many unspoken obstacles that try to take us down.
Theme 9: “Ese vive en las nubes”/ They live in the clouds
As Latinx students, we may feel pressure to meet certain expectations and not show any emotions. We are told to not be ungrateful. Mental health in the latinx culture is very hidden and not spoken about due to lack of information, education, and knowledge. But this can make it difficult for us to fully understand and express ourselves. We learn to suppress our emotions and this can leave us feeling overwhelmed and lost. We should be allowed to have our feelings validated and not be confined into this stigma.
For all students, mental health is a factor in their education and who they are as an individual. We don’t know ourselves just yet, we are in our own shadow.
For all students, mental health is a factor in their education and who they are as an individual. We don’t know ourselves just yet, we are in our own shadow.
Theme 10: Let our voices be heard!
“Actions speak louder than words,” in the sense that the school has to take action to give us, the students, the voice to speak on these issues. Without making us feel uncomfortable, silenced, unheard, or unseen by creating safe spaces to speak up. These spaces need to be more than just ASI. We also need to know and have opportunities to learn about our rights as students. We have seen how students can make change by coming together on their own. Just imagine how much change we can make with an institution who supports us and provides us with a platform!
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