Growing up, Elida Orozco-Sanchez’ parents taught her the value of her two cultures—Hispanic and American.
Today, she is a junior studying international business administration with a minor in Japanese at Missouri State University. This area of study has allowed her to connect her cultural understanding and language skills to her professional interests.
Connecting with her heritage
Orozco-Sanchez is from Galveston, Texas, and her parents are from Mexico. They moved to the Missouri bootheel when she was 8 years old.
“My parents immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. before having my sibling and I so we could have an opportunity to have a better life,” Orozco-Sanchez said.
But her parents still worked to help them learn about their heritage and keep their Spanish language skills sharp.
“My school in Texas and my parents made it a big deal for me to be bilingual,” she added.
On campus, Orozco-Sanchez visits the Missouri State Multicultural Resource Center for events to connect with fellow Hispanic and Latino/a/x students.
“There isn’t a very big Hispanic population at Missouri State,” Orozco-Sanchez said. “I would love it if there were more events to bring us together.”
Celebrate Latino/a/x Heritage Month with MSU
Finding the right fit
The decision to attend Missouri State was a no-brainer for Orozco-Sanchez. She received a sizeable scholarship and has enjoyed the atmosphere on campus. She has met some wonderful friends.
She entered as an accounting major, but after taking a few classes in it, she realized it wasn’t the right fit.
“Management in international business administration caught my attention,” Orozco-Sanchez said. “I thought it sounded cool, and it goes very well with my minor and me being bilingual.”
She expects to graduate in 2024. After graduation, she hopes to leverage her language skills and find a job that will allow her to work and live in Japan.