Hulices: Wartburg has helped me expand my worldview

Hulices Mireles ’23 of Des Moines has been able to share and celebrate his Hispanic culture in addition to learning about the cultures of others through his involvement in student organizations at Wartburg.

“When I first got to Wartburg, I didn’t get to experience very much diversity, and I went four months without hearing or speaking any Spanish to other students. I missed hearing the music, eating the food, and conversing with other students in Spanish,” Mireles said.

Seeking more opportunities for diverse experiences and conversations, Mireles joined many of the culture and diversity groups on campus to find other students who, like him, speak multiple languages or come from different backgrounds. Now, as a member of the Spanish and Latin Student Association (SALSA), Black Student Union (BSU), Asian Student Association (ASA), and International Club, Mireles is helping educate others about his culture and many others.

“We have been able to do a lot more this year since we didn’t have as many events last year due to COVID-19,” Mireles said. “This year we’re trying to not only have Hispanic students who are domestic citizens involved, we’re trying to involve a lot of international students as well. There is such a high number of international students and Hispanic students on campus, and we would like for as many people to get involved as we can.”

SALSA typically hosts monthly events, but during Latin Appreciation Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), SALSA hosted events every day of the week to celebrate the culture.

“Some of the events are smaller where we watch a movie, eat snacks, or listen to music together. We have karaoke nights, and a lot of our events are surrounding food,” Mireles said. “We try to do as much as we can and give students the opportunity to celebrate their culture.”

Mireles was drawn to Wartburg because of the reputation of the accounting and business programs. As one of the largest majors at the college, he knew that with a little hard work he would achieve success.

“Another reason why I chose Wartburg is because of the faculty-to-student ratio. It is very easy to communicate with my professors to make sure that I am staying on top of my studies,” Mireles said.

Mireles hopes that after graduation he can use his passion for accounting to help other Spanish speakers and those who speak English as a second language, just like his uncle, who is a financial adviser working primarily with other Hispanics in West Des Moines.

“Since there is a lot of overlap between accounting and business, I picked up the business major as well because the classes are similar, and it will help me see more connections and apply my knowledge to fields outside of accounting,” Mireles said.

Though the academics are important, one of Mireles’ favorite Wartburg memories has been meeting and creating friendships with international students, especially during his first year. After making the decision to sit with them in Mensa, he felt a strong sense of community and that he could always be himself.

“What makes Wartburg worth it is the people that I have met here and the impact that they have had on me. I have made so many friends from all over the world, different parts of the United States and different backgrounds,” Mireles said. “I also love being able to walk around campus and know all the faces and be friends with people that are very different from me. Wartburg has helped me expand my worldview.”