Precious traditions can be lost in time as families migrate from area to area and generations after generations continuously sprout and leave small trickles of culture behind. Spanish National Honor Society director and Spanish teacher Luz Heaney mentioned that Latinos and Latinas alike from third and even second generations grow weaker grasps of Hispanic heritage and forget the significance that comes with it, and eventually, any sense of community fades. However, the SNHS is here to help with this phenomenon.

SNHS met on Oct. 23 to color calaveras to hang up, allowing the school to acknowledge its heritage. Their next meeting is Nov. 13.

“[SNHS] consists of members who are actively involved in the Spanish community because, being diverse as it is, our school does not have much of a community,” junior Elizabeth Rhoads said. “The club is kind of just a growing community of native Spanish speakers or non-native Spanish speakers; it’s kind of just a space for all of us.”

For students to enroll and stay within the club, they must have taken Spanish three or higher, possess a 3.0 or higher GPA, commit to the monthly meetings, and complete at least 10 hours of community service whether outside or inside the organization.

“If one wants to join the club, they must follow the guidelines and submit their application as soon as possible,” senior president Mia Garza said.

Referencing Hispanic heritage and culture, the club is dedicated to showcasing itself in various helpful and creative forms. At every meeting, once every month, from 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., the club pursues an assortment of activities, such as crafting decorative flowers out of strips of tissue paper and coloring calaveras devoted to loved ones who have passed.

“I feel like most kids do not have the advantages that I had growing up in the southern part of Texas where we were exposed to the culture,” Heaney said. “I think it’s very important for our Hispanic population here at Johnson to know where they come from or to also advocate for some of the holidays or traditions so that they can feel represented in school. That’s how I try to bring some of the kids.”

Service work and field trips are also guaranteed factors in the club. Service work such as clothing drives, food drives, and coat drives spread support toward Hispanic shelters in Austin and members gain knowledge from trips to places such as museums that promote cultures through art.

“The idea behind field trips is that we’re trying to get our members exposed to real art,” Heaney said. “Because oftentimes when you do an AP exam, they will ask you specifically about a culture or maybe an artifact and describe it. We think it’s important to expose our members to something like that where they actually see it for themselves.”

Joining and participating in the club grants benefits outside of culture as well, like opportunities for graduation and further outward. A cord, medal, and scholarship are eligible for members on graduation day. The mandatory community service the club partakes in provides enriching abilities to immerse or create other bandings reported by Heaney.

“The club will make them learn how to invest in their community and how to make friends with people they don’t know by reaching out and creating a sense of community where there maybe isn’t one,” Heaney said.

The SNHS as a whole is an organization where students can get together and bond over shared experiences regarding their heritage and language. No matter if one is native to a Hispanic country or born in the U.S., Hispanic or not, members and the director welcome all who wish to engage in supporting and learning about the culture they’re determined to advocate.

“[The club] has taught me that it’s okay to be proud of your heritage and your culture,” Rhoads said. “Cause I look American but I’m not, I was born in El Salvador and my first language is Spanish and I came to the U.S. when I was eight, so the club made me realize ‘Oh there’s more people like me’ and that it’s not something to be ashamed of.”