Cuban Roots in White Spaces: A First-Generation Medical Student's Story
Description
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Episode Description:
Leilani Chirino, a vibrant Cuban dancer, and first-generation medical student, shares her experiences navigating predominantly white institutions.
Join us as Leilani explores:
- The challenges of maintaining cultural connections within a predominantly white environment
- How her upbringing in a Cuban community shaped her identity
- Balancing her passion for Afro-Cuban dance with her medical studies
Inspiring Quote:
"My family was very stringent on not whitewashing. As a kids, I went to a Cuban school. I spoke Spanish up until I learned English, I think in high school. I started talking in high school. Our community was multiracial, multiethnic, you know, lower class, but it was beautiful." - Leilani Chirino
About Leilani Chirino:
Leilani Chirino, a Cuban medical student at the University of Pennsylvania, took a gap year to teach Afro-Cuban folklore. She is passionate about sharing her heritage and believes being a doctor and a dancer are not mutually exclusive.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:
- The experiences of first-generation college students
- Maintaining cultural identity in a new environment
- Balancing passions and pursuing diverse academic and artistic paths
Episode Sources
NOE-BUSTAMANTE, Luis. "Measuring the Racial Identity of Latinos." Pew Research Center, 2021.
Ong, Rebecca. Remittances Grow By 5% Despite Global HeadWinds.The World Bank, 2022.
Seven, Zuva. Cultural Assimilation -How it Affects Mental Health. Very Well Mind, 2023.
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