By: Emily Gonzalez

 

Hanzel Lopez-Peralta, 18-year-old freshman at the University of Oregon, wakes up to the sound of rain on his window. It’s time again to start the early morning trek to the LTD bus stop like most students in Eugene, Oregon do. He walks the streets of campus with a willingness to learn and confidence that he will make it from one class to the next. This has been his weekday routine since he started college in the fall. A year and a half ago, this was not the case.

Living in Mexican state of Guerrero since the age of ten, Hanzel was content with almost every aspect of his life. It was not until one of the most significant parts of his life, his education, was compromised that he began to feel that life in Mexico would no longer benefit his future. Hanzel recalls the night of September 26, 2014, when 43 college students were taken by Mexican law enforcement officials in the nearby city of Iguala, Guerrero. Onboard five buses, the undergraduate students were on their way to commemorate a student massacre that had occurred in 1968. After the buses were commandeered by federal police, many of the students were killed. However, the details of that night are still emerging. The tragedy had a significant impact on schools in the surrounding area. “We stopped having school for about three months. After that we would go back to class, but only for two to three days of the week.” Hanzel was concerned for his education and felt unsafe continuing it in Mexico. With the goal of following in his uncle’s footsteps and studying sports journalism, he made the decision to move to Woodburn, Oregon to finish his senior year of high school. Leaving his mother and sisters behind was difficult, but ultimately he was making a promise to further his studies that would be a priceless and lifelong investment.

Hanzel’s decision to relocate has proven to be both positive and negative. Although his knowledge of the English language is strong, communicating with professors can be difficult and even intimidating at times. However, he has received endless support from the Spanish Language Heritage Program and the U of O and has remained close to his roots. His passion for soccer and his home remain a part of his daily life and are things that he bonds over with his roommates who are also Latino. “Every time I’m with them, we always talk Spanish. That makes me happy because I get to be myself.” As he continues to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, he strives to return to Mexico after graduation and turn his passions for soccer and journalism into a career.