Meet Author and Boricua College Alumni Hortensia Gonzalez
Written by J. Wesley Beeks
Tonight Chairperson LAS/Generic Studies Department Jose R. Hernandez opened the presentation with the challenges Latinos face living and working in the United States. Latinos have a distinct challenge and position to converge the best of both cultures without losing their cultural integrity. He listed the achievements of the author and how Latinos are meeting the challenges they face today. Speaking primarily in Spanish with interludes of English he introduced the author.
The event was well attend with students and faculty. At one point the audience burst into laughter when she spoke of her father lining the children lining up to use the bathroom at night. Everybody had to use the bathroom before they could go to sleep. It was personal moments like this that endeared her to the audience as they reflected on their own childhood memories. There was also readings from "La palabra revelada/rebelada: el poder de contarnos" that was written by Marianela Medrano and Miriam Meji which were read with gusto by three showcasing the diversity of Latino culture.
As an author she probes the necessity of Dominican women in cross cultural socio-political discourse. A voice often not heard she insures that her voice will be heard as well of that of her mother who greatly influenced her philosophies. Her views are rooted in a deep commitment to cultural and family ties.
She is an author of two books. The first book entitled “ A través de mis ojos: lo que ella me contó" is a memoir of the collected stories of her mother. A Dominican woman of great history and lineage her mother inspired her towards education. She was profoundly affected by the strength of her mother’s life and challenges. She spoke on the dichotomy converging the American and Dominican culture. I asked her what advice would she give to those moving one culture to another and her immediate response was “ Oh no it is so hard” In the face of the apparent difficulty of cultural and language challenges she was able to maintain her cultural identity and still keep her integrity and poise.
When asked her about graduate studies she paused and smiled with a round brightness. Her goal is to enter social work and combine the best elements of human services. She is contemplating going to university in Puerto Rico to continue her studies. Her desire to help others is noted in her welcoming countenance.
She has written two books in her first language, Spanish , and is proficient in English as well. She prefers to write in Spanish to continue the rich heritage of her Dominican culture and make her writings accessible to her community and family.
The second book is a contextual journey of her life entitled “"Párrafos del alma y de otras latitudes". his book is the journey of her own life and challenges in cultural transitions between the Dominican and American culture.
A recent alumni of Boricua College from the class of 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services she is grateful and happy for her opportunity for professional advancement. Sharing her joys and challenges of matriculation at Boricua College she cites three professors who shaped her professionalism. I asked her which of her professors had the most profound impact on her academic experience at Boricua College.
The professor who first shaped her academic perspective was Doris Mills. “Doris Mills was so effective in teaching the affective skills. She made sure you learned and was so astute. You learned everybody‘s name in the first class and remembered it.” She stated that Doris Mills was a calming and strong support that assured her in learning Bloome’s taxonomy.
She mentions Professor Daniel Argote in the Human Services program as a major source of inspiration. Stating his kindness and gentle manner as the catalyst for her ease in learning about the complexities of human services. She said ,” Argote was extremely good at the colloquium process and was so good at group work. I really learned how the colloquium works and how to communicate and share my thoughts.”
The last professor to provide a lasting impression upon her world was Human Services Chair Yvette Mercado. Her last semester was with Professor Yvette Mercardo whom she describes as very bright and commanding. “ She demands that students complete the modules and be accurate and professional. I learned from her and became more confident about my skills. She expects the best from you and you want to deliver it!” She continued to say,” My last semester was hard but at the end I understood why. She gave me the tools to survive.”
Hortensia Gonzalez is a study in how returning students can complete their degree at any point in their life and bring a profound richness needed in academic diversity. She represents how perseverance and education are indeed the pillars of democracy and transformative in one’s personal, professional and family life.
For more information on her books contact her at: bahia742000@yahoo.com
Written by J. Wesley Beeks
Tonight Chairperson LAS/Generic Studies Department Jose R. Hernandez opened the presentation with the challenges Latinos face living and working in the United States. Latinos have a distinct challenge and position to converge the best of both cultures without losing their cultural integrity. He listed the achievements of the author and how Latinos are meeting the challenges they face today. Speaking primarily in Spanish with interludes of English he introduced the author.
The event was well attend with students and faculty. At one point the audience burst into laughter when she spoke of her father lining the children lining up to use the bathroom at night. Everybody had to use the bathroom before they could go to sleep. It was personal moments like this that endeared her to the audience as they reflected on their own childhood memories. There was also readings from "La palabra revelada/rebelada: el poder de contarnos" that was written by Marianela Medrano and Miriam Meji which were read with gusto by three showcasing the diversity of Latino culture.
As an author she probes the necessity of Dominican women in cross cultural socio-political discourse. A voice often not heard she insures that her voice will be heard as well of that of her mother who greatly influenced her philosophies. Her views are rooted in a deep commitment to cultural and family ties.
She is an author of two books. The first book entitled “ A través de mis ojos: lo que ella me contó" is a memoir of the collected stories of her mother. A Dominican woman of great history and lineage her mother inspired her towards education. She was profoundly affected by the strength of her mother’s life and challenges. She spoke on the dichotomy converging the American and Dominican culture. I asked her what advice would she give to those moving one culture to another and her immediate response was “ Oh no it is so hard” In the face of the apparent difficulty of cultural and language challenges she was able to maintain her cultural identity and still keep her integrity and poise.
When asked her about graduate studies she paused and smiled with a round brightness. Her goal is to enter social work and combine the best elements of human services. She is contemplating going to university in Puerto Rico to continue her studies. Her desire to help others is noted in her welcoming countenance.
She has written two books in her first language, Spanish , and is proficient in English as well. She prefers to write in Spanish to continue the rich heritage of her Dominican culture and make her writings accessible to her community and family.
The second book is a contextual journey of her life entitled “"Párrafos del alma y de otras latitudes". his book is the journey of her own life and challenges in cultural transitions between the Dominican and American culture.
A recent alumni of Boricua College from the class of 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services she is grateful and happy for her opportunity for professional advancement. Sharing her joys and challenges of matriculation at Boricua College she cites three professors who shaped her professionalism. I asked her which of her professors had the most profound impact on her academic experience at Boricua College.
The professor who first shaped her academic perspective was Doris Mills. “Doris Mills was so effective in teaching the affective skills. She made sure you learned and was so astute. You learned everybody‘s name in the first class and remembered it.” She stated that Doris Mills was a calming and strong support that assured her in learning Bloome’s taxonomy.
She mentions Professor Daniel Argote in the Human Services program as a major source of inspiration. Stating his kindness and gentle manner as the catalyst for her ease in learning about the complexities of human services. She said ,” Argote was extremely good at the colloquium process and was so good at group work. I really learned how the colloquium works and how to communicate and share my thoughts.”
The last professor to provide a lasting impression upon her world was Human Services Chair Yvette Mercado. Her last semester was with Professor Yvette Mercardo whom she describes as very bright and commanding. “ She demands that students complete the modules and be accurate and professional. I learned from her and became more confident about my skills. She expects the best from you and you want to deliver it!” She continued to say,” My last semester was hard but at the end I understood why. She gave me the tools to survive.”
Hortensia Gonzalez is a study in how returning students can complete their degree at any point in their life and bring a profound richness needed in academic diversity. She represents how perseverance and education are indeed the pillars of democracy and transformative in one’s personal, professional and family life.
For more information on her books contact her at: bahia742000@yahoo.com
