For me Latinx Heritage month is a time of reflection, celebration of my Mexican culture and time to pay to tribute to those who have significantly played a role in cultivating who I am. This is a time where I pause and acknowledge all the struggles my family has gone through in order to pave the way for the next generations. My parents immigrated from Mexico to the United States in the late 60’s in pursuit of a better quality of life and opportunity for their children. I know the incredible sacrifices they have made in immigrating to this country not knowing any English yet raising a family, becoming U.S. citizens and teaching us the meaning of strong work ethic at an early age. They have shaped me into the person I am today and everything I do is to make them proud.
I am the youngest of three daughters and first-generation American; born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, I am proud to be Mexican American. Growing up with a big Mexican family; making food was always at the heart and center of all our family gatherings—and some of my fondest memories. As a little girl I loved hanging around the kitchen watching my mom and tias (aunties) preparing our favorite Mexican dishes and listening to their stories as they cooked. The nostalgia of eating my mother’s famous chicken mole with the tortillas she handmade are the memories I savor the most. During the holidays, it was expected to have all hands-on deck to help make the tamales in time for Christmas Eve—a tradition my mother introduced to my own daughters in the hopes to carry on. Some of the ways I plan to celebrate Latinx Heritage month is by supporting local Latinx restaurants and watching some of my favorite movies: “Like Water for Chocolate” and “Cesar Chavez” because it reminds me of the passion around cooking in my family and also the struggles they have endured.
The lessons my parents have taught me is to work hard and always be proud of my Mexican heritage and never to lose sight of where I came from. This is why I am so proud to work for a company like Deckers who shares this philosophy and motivates employees to bring their “authentic selves” to work and gives us a platform to celebrate our differences and embrace diversity.
-Blanca Hernandez
Deckers Careers 