For many students, the Music and Cuisine Festival at Missouri Southern is a celebration of culture, food and community. For me, is the memory of the first time I felt I could belong. 

I attended the festival last year, right before starting my first year of college with my mom. We arrived a little late and missed some performances, including student singers I wish I could have seen. But at the time, that didn’t matter. We weren’t there for the music or the food – we were there searching for something else. 

We found seats in the stands and quietly observed everything around us. Students walked by wearing traditional clothing, speaking their own languages, laughing with friends, and working alongside their families at different booths. For us, that simple scene meant everything. 

We hadn’t eaten anything that day. Our only concern was whether there would be people like us – people who also felt lost in a new system, a new language, and a new environment. Seeing that diversity, even from a distance, brought a sense of relief I didn’t expect. For the first time, we didn’t feel so alone. 

That experience stayed with me. After that day, I walked onto campus with a little more confidence, knowing there was a place for people like me. 

This year, I plan to return to the festival – but not as an observer. I’ll be participating alongside friends as part of the Latin American Student Association (LASA). I still don’t know exactly what to expect, but I know it will be different. 

This year has been challenging in many ways. I hope this time the festival feels more like a place where I’m not just watching, but really part of something.