Q: Who mentors your project?

A:  Dr. Christopher Perriera mentored my research project.

Q: What surprised you about doing research?

A: I was surprised at how symbolism is so incredibly important, how the stereotypes of Latina women have always existed in deciphering who they are supposed to be in the United States. Also how Latino names are essential in identifying or othering them in popular fiction: their names serve as a trait without giving a character physical and palpable descriptions.

Q: What did you find most challenging about getting involved in or doing your project? What advice would you offer to students facing similar challenges?



A: I found the entire idea of research to be greatly intimidating, however it is an amazing feeling when you become more engrossed in your research and learn things that you had not even expected to learn. Also research requires you to put in an immense amount of time; research will be like a job and it is important to put in the work and time.

My advice to students would be to research something that interests you, even if it is in humanities because the findings that are being done by these researchers are very important. Also talk to your mentor, and don’t be afraid to ask questions because no one goes into research knowing exactly what to do.

 Q: What do you like most about your project?

A: I like that I can call it my work. However, even more than that my research has made me more curious and has made me want to conduct more research. Also I am proud that I am joining the number of Latino researchers who are investigating and analyzing these patterns that exist for Latinos in the United States. My research is important, in the future it can become useful in addressing the needs of Latina females in the United States.