Zulema Argueta
OHS senior, Zulema Argueta, was one of 10 high achieving students from Ottumwa who attended the Latinx Youth Summit, which was part of the 18th annual “Strengthening and Valuing Latino/a Communities in Iowa.” The conference was coordinated by the Center for Diversity and Enrichment and the University of Iowa School of Social Work. Over 200 students from across the state attended. It was her first time attending a state conference. “I decided why not,” she said. “I was kinda curious.”
The conference was not only interesting but eye-opening for her. The one thing that stuck in her mind was that Latinos are viewed as a minority. “I live in a small town. I don’t feel racism,” she said.
While she isn’t sure how she will apply what she learned during her last year at OHS, she hopes to use the information after she graduates college and begins her teaching career. As a math teacher, she hopes to incorporate cultural themes into the instruction where appropriate. “Hopefully we don’t lose that-our culture is beautiful,” she said. “Not weird, just different.”
She currently volunteers at Evans as part of an early childhood course and through Future Educators of America. She shadowed Mr. Zuehlke’s class, and now tutors two students after school. “I can make a big difference in their educational life,” she said.
A first generation citizen, her hope is that people see her for what she plans to contribute.
