Estefania Duarte

Estefania is a senior at HTH this year, and will be the graduating class of 2022. She is a Mexican-American student who has been a part of the HTH system since 8th grade. Born in San Diego and raised in Tijuana, México. In our conversation, she gives insight into how this school has provided a new path for her and let her see a new way of learning.

Do you feel at home at HTH?

I’ve definitely found my people. As humans, we always find what we are most comfortable in. Which is something we relate to. I can say the people I hang out with or that make me feel at home at that school are people that are also Mexican. People that I can speak Spanish with or people that I can joke around in Spanish with.

it important to find people who speak the same language or grew up similarly?

I do believe that it’s important to find people different from you. To have more diversity so that you can grow from one another. But I also feel that it’s important to find people who have similar backgrounds to you so you can talk about your similar problems with people who understand you. They can give you a more honest opinion based on the similarities that they’re going through.

Do you think there should be a larger Mexican student population at HTH?

Honestly, I feel that there are a lot and I wouldn’t mind some more. There is a great quantity of us.

Why do you think there isn't a larger Mexican student population at HTH?

There’s a certain mentality around HTH. The stigma is that it’s a white people's school. I say this because even before I started going there I didn’t want to go there because I was like ‘No, how embarrassing. My friends are going to say that I go to a white people's school. They’re not going to want to talk to me anymore. ’ People also had that idea of HTH because when I told my friends I was going to start going there they started acting differently. One time we had this argument and they told me ‘So you think you ’ re better than us now because you go to a white people's school?’ That was something that really made me think ‘Damn people really do think this about HTH, and I may even be seen different.’ Honestly, I walked in with that same mentality, but I quickly became adapted to HTH because it’s so welcoming. It tries to make you feel at home. Make sure that you ’ re okay. That you feel safe.

Do you feel that's why Mexican students who are accepted turn down the offer?

I would say so, yeah.

What brought you to HTH?

"My brother went to school here. My parents wanted me to go to school here because it turned out good for my brother. They noticed that it gave us more opportunities than other people from our culture that didn’t go to that school."

What grade did you join HTH?

8th grade was my first year.

Was HTH your best option?

I can definitely say this school was the best option for me. Let’s just say that if I would’ve stayed at the public school that I would’ve been going to, I think it was San Diego High for me, I probably would have ended up pregnant or in gangs like most of my friends from childhood.

Why do you think so many teens fall into these outcomes?

The system doesn’t show them other opportunities. It just seems like an easier way out than actually going through with school. The other school system is different than HTH. It doesn't expose them to new things and new opportunities. Going to HTH you get exposed to different scenarios, different people, different views. Your mind starts thinking differently and starts looking for the things that are good for you.

I do believe that because everyone learns differently and public schools are made so you learn by how they teach you and they don’t adapt to you. I can say that HTH had adapted to my learning style, to my necessities. All you gotta do is speak up to people, your teachers mainly, what you need from them.

Do your parents feel welcomed at HTH?

Yeah, I mainly feel that because they know that my brother was safe there. And my brother did well with the teachings he had from there. They know it is a good place for me, so they do feel safe.

Do you feel the school is accommodating/welcoming to their Latino student population?

I do believe that. Especially with us having a MEChA group. I feel they do speak up for the Latino necessities and the Latino people at school.

What would you change or add to make the school more welcoming to Latinos?

I’m not sure if we have a Spanish parents association but that could make more parents try to engage with the school. I know my parents have never gone to a parents association meeting because I guess they wouldn’t feel comfortable going there. It’s their second language and they wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking up. Maybe if we had a Spanish teacher association. I just feel parents would feel more comfortable going. Specifically Latino parents.

Do you feel that HTH prepares you for the future?

It has prepared my mentality for the outside world because it has taught me how to work with people who are different than me. And it has expanded my boundaries. I’m able to work with people that in the past I didn’t feel comfortable working with. In a large crowd, I can always find my way. That is something that HTH had prepared me for, for the outside world. Academically, I’m not sure until I face the outside world.