My name is Jose Manuel Hernandez Lozano, it means my identity as a Chicano, and the values I carry from two cultures that has been denied by society. I was born on April 7, 1997 in Jilotepec, Mexico, a small town just outside of Mexico City. When I was seven years old, I migrated to the United States, the land of the free, in pursuit of educational opportunities that would provide a better life for my family. What I have learned along the way is that this is a land of loss and gain at the same time. I am now free, while I have lost my identity and culture.
While I crossed the border, I had to assimilate into the American lifestyle without a choice. I was seven years old when I lost my innocence and it left an open wound. Throughout the years I could not define who I was. I am a Latino, Hispanic, Mexican; while I want to tell the world, I am a person stuck between two borders; a Chicano who both countries don't recognize being part of the social standards. I am a Human Services major at Guttman Community College and my initial hope was to be involved in direct service work in New York City. I am grateful for this experience as my interests and knowledge as grown beyond my community to broader questions about education and Chicano identity. During Spring 2018, I was introduced to the writings of Gloria Anzaldua, Luis Rodriguez, Norma Mendoza-Dento, and more, whose writings made evident to me that education does not have to be a place that strips me of my identity, culture, and society. All I need to do was to find an institution and department that would nurture my interests. I build upon my stepping stone by developing an Independent Study on the Chicano, and Mexican American Community.