When I first came to Ball State, I felt both excited and scared. As the youngest of four, I had always been known as someone’s younger sister. Now, I was going somewhere no one knew my older siblings, and I could finally be seen as my own person. I was excited to make new friends and explore what interested me—but I was also nervous. What if I didn’t make friends, or I didn’t like my classes?
Luckily, that didn’t happen. During my first year at Ball State, I made it a point to attend as many events and activities as I could. I was determined to meet people, build connections, and get involved in groups that would help me de-stress and feel at home.
One of the most meaningful communities I found was the Latinx Student Union (LSU). Through LSU, I built friendships and found a space where I truly felt at home. I now serve as the public relations director and will step into the vice president role next year—something that has been incredibly meaningful to me.
As a Spanish minor, I assumed I would naturally stay connected to that part of my identity. But I quickly realized that Hispanics are a minority in Muncie. Finding LSU gave me a place to connect with others who share my background and to speak Spanish in a way that feels natural and comfortable.
My major is speech-language pathology within the College of Health, and I chose it because I love helping others. In high school, I had a mentor who was a speech pathologist and occasionally let me observe her work. Through those experiences, I fell in love with the field and realized it was something I could truly see myself doing. I’m especially excited about this path because it allows me to use Spanish to support others in two languages.
I grew up speaking both Spanish and English, and over time I noticed that some students struggled to keep up with both. It’s difficult to see, because language is such an important part of life. All of my extended family speaks Spanish, and I would be devastated if I couldn’t communicate with them.
One experience that strengthened this perspective was taking SP 305 with Professor Chin-Sook Pak, associate professor of Spanish. Her passion for the language inspired me to focus more intentionally on the bilingual side of speech pathology. That’s one of the main reasons I want to become a bilingual speech-language pathologist—I don’t want children to feel like one language matters more than the other. Both are important in meaningful ways.
After I graduate, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in bilingual speech pathology. I know my parents are proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m proud of myself for continuing to push forward, even when things feel difficult. I’m so excited for what’s ahead—and confident that whatever challenges come next will only make me stronger.
— Emily Torres-Garduza
