About 39.7% of Santa Barbara County residents speak a language other than English at home, according to the Santa Barbara County Fact Sheet.
The result is a diverse population in which numerous cultures and ethnicities come together to form a unified community.
At Laguna, many students speak two or more languages, with English being the most common.
For these students, bilingualism is an integral part of their identities in the United States, reflecting their roots and cultures.
Being located in Santa Barbara, Laguna boasts a large population of Hispanic students with ancestry from countries including Mexico, Argentina, and Guatemala, among others.
For sophomore Josh Gomez, Spanish has always been a central part of his life. “I grew up speaking Spanish. My parents both speak Spanish, so it was the first language I learned. I only speak Spanish at my house, and I didn’t learn English until I started going to school,” he said.
Other bilingual students had similar experiences with their native languages, having not learned English until they started school.
For freshman Emma Bouvat-Merlin, English was always a secondary language to French growing up.
“Everything I do, the traditions are all French,” said Emma.
Having grown up in a French environment allows Emma to remain rooted in French culture, even now living in the United States, along with being able to share her culture with others.
“Being bilingual, a lot of people like to ask me to speak in French. I personally think it helps me grow and helps me teach people my culture,” she said.
For many bilingual students, being able to speak another language can bring a strong sense of cultural pride.
However, it can also be challenging to feel like an outsider in an area that is predominantly English-speaking. For senior Sophia Probstel, speaking German used to be a source of embarrassment.
“I went through a stage where I was more embarrassed. When my dad spoke German in public, because we speak German together, I used to tell him to stop,” said Sophia. However, as she has grown up, Sophia’s German roots have become a source of pride for her.
“I’m very proud and deeply enjoy it, because it’s like a secret language, especially since I have some German friends who I can secretly talk to,” she said
As a community with a diverse population, it is paramount to take pride in our differences and share them with one another.