Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Pedro Gutierrez
October 14, 2020 | Men's Tennis
From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the people, their ancestors, cultures and powerful impact they've made in the U.S. Throughout this month, we will be highlighting Boston University student-athletes who are proud to identify as Hispanic and are thrilled to share their heritage and culture with the rest of Terrier Nation.
PREVIOUS SPOTLIGHTS:
JP Uribe (9/25)
B. Gargicevich-Almeida (9/30)
Diego de la Torre, (10/5)
Savanah Garcia (10/9)
Next up, meet Pedro Gutierrez, a senior on the men's tennis team from Guatemala City, Guatemala.
How do you identify?
I identify as Guatemalan.
Tell us about your family and culture.
My family is a very united group. We like to do a lot of things together especially on the weekends when everyone is home. We have a lot of traditions. For example, on Sundays, we always go for lunch together and watch sports in the afternoon in the living room. I have two siblings, one younger brother and younger sister. My culture is very relaxed I would say, very understanding and very patriotic.
What does your Hispanic heritage mean to you?
It means a lot to me, I see it as a way of understanding how I am. The Hispanic heritage is so big around the world that it feels very good being part of it.
Does your family have any traditions that are important to you?
Sunday lunch and sports events. Going to the farm, playing tennis and traveling.
What holidays do you and family celebrate and what do they mean?
It is a very popular tradition in Latin America to celebrate Christmas and New Year's with family members. We all go to one house to spend the night and we have a big dinner with family and friends. For New Year's, we usually travel somewhere with the family.
What's something you want people to know about being Hispanic?
That Hispanic people are fun and nice. We are rich in traditions, we are loyal people and a majority of us are extroverted for sure.
How have you found community at BU?
I've enjoyed the community at BU so far, everyone that I've met is pretty welcoming and nice. I found a big Hispanic community on campus which is always great. BU being so diverse is actually nice because you meet people from all over the world.
Have there been any struggles, and if so, how have you been able to overcome them?
Being 100% honest, I haven't encountered any problems at BU. I think a big part of it is that I had a group of friends before joining the tennis team so that made the transition easier for sure.
What's your favorite cultural dish?
Tostadas con frijol, salsa or guac, is probably my go to dish when I am back home.
Do you have a favorite song, playlist and artist?
I just listen to reggaeton. It is the most popular genre in Latin America and a majority of Spanish speaking countries. I listen to it because its music in Spanish, and I can relate to it more.
Who is someone Hispanic that you look up to and why?
My father and my grandpa for sure. My grandpa immigrated from Spain to Guatemala when he was 15 years old. We didn't have much money and with hard work and dedication, we managed to overcome adversity and be a very successful family.
Has your heritage influenced you in your sport?
I think it gave me a better understanding of what is needed to get better as well as working hard and being dedicated to what you love to do.
Did anything about Boston or BU in regards to your culture influence you to come here?
Yeah, the fact that BU is in a very diverse city, it has people from all over the world. I had friends that decided to go to other schools in Boston. I wanted to be close to them as well, mainly because Boston is a beautiful city with a lot to offer. I wanted to have my college experience in a city like Boston.
PREVIOUS SPOTLIGHTS:
JP Uribe (9/25)
B. Gargicevich-Almeida (9/30)
Diego de la Torre, (10/5)
Savanah Garcia (10/9)
Next up, meet Pedro Gutierrez, a senior on the men's tennis team from Guatemala City, Guatemala.
How do you identify?
I identify as Guatemalan.
Tell us about your family and culture.
My family is a very united group. We like to do a lot of things together especially on the weekends when everyone is home. We have a lot of traditions. For example, on Sundays, we always go for lunch together and watch sports in the afternoon in the living room. I have two siblings, one younger brother and younger sister. My culture is very relaxed I would say, very understanding and very patriotic.
What does your Hispanic heritage mean to you?
It means a lot to me, I see it as a way of understanding how I am. The Hispanic heritage is so big around the world that it feels very good being part of it.
Does your family have any traditions that are important to you?
Sunday lunch and sports events. Going to the farm, playing tennis and traveling.
What holidays do you and family celebrate and what do they mean?
It is a very popular tradition in Latin America to celebrate Christmas and New Year's with family members. We all go to one house to spend the night and we have a big dinner with family and friends. For New Year's, we usually travel somewhere with the family.
What's something you want people to know about being Hispanic?
That Hispanic people are fun and nice. We are rich in traditions, we are loyal people and a majority of us are extroverted for sure.
How have you found community at BU?
I've enjoyed the community at BU so far, everyone that I've met is pretty welcoming and nice. I found a big Hispanic community on campus which is always great. BU being so diverse is actually nice because you meet people from all over the world.
Have there been any struggles, and if so, how have you been able to overcome them?
Being 100% honest, I haven't encountered any problems at BU. I think a big part of it is that I had a group of friends before joining the tennis team so that made the transition easier for sure.
What's your favorite cultural dish?
Tostadas con frijol, salsa or guac, is probably my go to dish when I am back home.
Do you have a favorite song, playlist and artist?
I just listen to reggaeton. It is the most popular genre in Latin America and a majority of Spanish speaking countries. I listen to it because its music in Spanish, and I can relate to it more.
Who is someone Hispanic that you look up to and why?
My father and my grandpa for sure. My grandpa immigrated from Spain to Guatemala when he was 15 years old. We didn't have much money and with hard work and dedication, we managed to overcome adversity and be a very successful family.
Has your heritage influenced you in your sport?
I think it gave me a better understanding of what is needed to get better as well as working hard and being dedicated to what you love to do.
Did anything about Boston or BU in regards to your culture influence you to come here?
Yeah, the fact that BU is in a very diverse city, it has people from all over the world. I had friends that decided to go to other schools in Boston. I wanted to be close to them as well, mainly because Boston is a beautiful city with a lot to offer. I wanted to have my college experience in a city like Boston.
Players Mentioned
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