Do you ever wonder what inspires students to start a cultural club? How can a few friends, a shared heritage, and one idea turn into something much bigger? What happens when students decide to celebrate their roots and create a space for others to feel seen?
Meet Colors of Culture — a club founded by passionate Highlanders who wanted to bring representation, connection, and pride to their community. Through food, music, dance, and conversation, members share their backgrounds and learn from one another. In this spotlight interview, you’ll hear directly from the students who power the club, their stories of Latino/Hispanic pride, their hobbies, their challenges, and their hopes for the future.
Meet the Co-Founders!
Q: Tell me about your background.
“I was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts by two Salvadoran parents. I have deep love and appreciation for my culture and for the way my parents taught me about my culture growing up. I am bilingual and happy. My parents taught me how to speak Spanish because I can socialize and connect with other others who share the same background as me.” – Amy.
“I’m Salvadorian. I was born and raised there ’till I was 5, then I came to America. My birthday is March 19, 2009. I speak English and Spanish.” – Ali .
“I was born and raised in Sonsonate, El Salvador, a place filled with vibrant culture, warmth, and tradition. Growing up there shaped a big part of who I am today. Spanish was my first language, and I spoke it for most of my childhood until around the age of eight, when I began learning and speaking more English. My birthday is on January 9, which makes me a Capricorn. My roots and experiences have taught me to take pride in my Latin heritage while also embracing the opportunities and cultures around me.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
The Colors of Culture Co-Founders! | [From Left to Right] Amy, Ali, Rosmeri.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies, passions, video games, or special interests? What’s a fun or unique fact about you?
“I am big on my faith and I am a proud Christian and follower of Jesus Christ. I have a huge passion for music and I practice instruments in my free time.” – Amy .
“Something that I really enjoy doing is either cooking or drawing. That I cook not a lot of people know because it’s not something that I show to much.” – Ali .
Q: Did you join any extracurriculars, after school clubs, organizations, programs, or sports in the past — other than your own club?
“I have joined a few clubs in the past here at Doherty Memorial High School I have joined the theater club and also the baking club.” – Amy .
“Yes, I joined the soccer team but I had to quit due to my job and injury.” – Ali .
“I don’t play right now, but in the spring I enjoy playing golf.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
Q: Do you have any work, community work, or internship experiences you want to share with us?
“I love to work with many different people, and I love to be as helpful as I can.” – Amy .
“Yes, I work. I’ve been working for a while now.” – Ali .
Q: Do you have any favorite teachers, fellow Highlanders or other staff members here at DMHS that you’d like to mention?
“My favorite teacher has to be Ms. Gonzalez, big shout out to her support in our club.” – Amy .
“Everyone—especially my freshman year teachers and my counselors—has made such a difference in my life. There are certain people who come into your life and make everything a little bit better just by being there. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without their support, guidance, and second opinions when I needed them most always encouraging me to do my best and reminding me that I’m capable of more than I think. I truly wish everyone could experience having people like them but I know that’s not possible I’m truly lucky.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
Picture of Pep Rally that occurred on 11/23/25.
Q: What are your plans after you graduate? Do you have any goals for the future? Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?
“I see myself studying and giving myself a great as well as getting deeper into my faith.” – Amy .
“My plan after graduation is to go to college. I want to be an architect or an interior designer. I’m not quite sure what I want to do just yet. In 5-10 years, I see myself working and being successful on what I decide to do.” – Ali .
“I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing after high school, but I hope that wherever I end up, I’m helping people in some way. I want to be passionate about my work and truly love what I’m doing.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
Q: What were some challenges you had to overcome during High School? Any advice to fellow Highlanders?
“Huge challenges that I’ve had to overcome was the fear of getting out there and socializing. Being able to take myself out of my comfort zone has been one of my biggest wins.” – Amy .
“A challenge I had to overcome is that when I was in 10th grade I really didn’t know how to manage my time wisely so I had a lot of missing work which really affected my grades and also my mental health because I really cared about my grades but I just couldn’t find the time to do my work but also have work after school so that really affected me I felt like I was over working myself. A piece of advice I would give is that to never not push yourself to be the best and even if you don’t end up being the best you know you have given your best which is the most important part.” – Ali .
“If I had any advice for others, it would be to get involved. Join things and be a part of as much as you can. That’s how you build relationships, meet people you enjoy being around, and find others who share your interests and passions.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
Q: How has your experience at Doherty Memorial High School shaped you as a person? Do you feel supported and heard here, and what are you most looking forward to in the future?
“Doherty Memorial High School has opened many opportunities as well as shaped me into a better student overall.” – Amy .
“I know I have a lot of support here. I feel heard, and I’ve definitely been shaped into the person I am today. The people at Doherty have shown me nothing but positivity and have always been there for me. As a young teen, the people around you really help shape your mind, and I’m grateful for the guidance I’ve had here.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
Q: What’s a quote you would like to share?
“It’s better to move slow than to stay still.”
“At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” Isaiah 60:22
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency.” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Colors of Culture
Q: Tell me a bit about your club. What is the name of it, and how do you promote your club? Where is your club located, and what time do meetings start and end? Who is the teacher advisor running the club?
“The name of the club is Colors of Culture. I had the idea to start this club when I saw the lack of engagement we had with each other as the Hispanic community here at Doherty Memorial high school. I felt that there was a lack of representation for us Latinos so I proposed the idea to one of my friends to make a club for Latinos and Hispanics where we would all come together and enjoy and learn more about our culture. We started to make the club and step-by-step. We were able to come up with the colors of culture club with our advisor being Ms. Gonzalez.” – Amy .
“Colors of Culture. The club is located in room B202. It starts at 1:45-2:45. The teacher is Ms. Gonzalez.” – Ali .
“Colors of Cultures is a club that celebrates diversity and brings people together through culture, community, and creativity. We actively promote our club on social media to spread awareness and share what we do, but we also love connecting with others in person whenever we get the chance. We meet every week in room B202 from 1:45 to 2:45, and our amazing teacher advisor, Ms. Gonzalez, helps guide and support us in everything we do.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
Colors of Culture Poster.
Q: How did you come up Colors of Culture? What inspired you — any role models? What message do you want to spread by continuing with your club?
“I came up with the colors of culture club by thinking of ways to represent those who are from Central America or those who are second generation Latinos. I hope that with this club, I am able to share more about our heritage so we don’t forget about about our history and culture.” – Amy.
“We came up with the club because we saw that there’s was no representation for the Hispanic/Latino community.” – Ali .
“We created Colors of Cultures with the hope that anyone who feels different can feel welcomed. Culture is all around our school—we all bring unique backgrounds, languages, and traditions. Sometimes it can be hard to find your people or feel comfortable speaking your native language, especially as a second-generation student trying to learn about your roots and be proud of who you are. When you come to our meetings, we want to celebrate those differences and create a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
Q: Can you describe an average meeting at Colors of Culture? What sort of activities does your club do? What do conversations there look like?
“Because of culture club is really diverse we focus on delivering the message in fun ways in. We dance we share food we play games sing Spanish songs and just overall have fun learning about each other and our backgrounds.” – Amy .
“The average meeting at Colors of Culture is either dancing/ learning new stuff , and over all having fun.” – Ali .
A Colors of Culture Meeting!
Q: Describe a moment where you felt discouraged. What was a challenge you had faced? What sort of steps did you take to keep your club growing?
“When I was starting the club, I felt really discouraged when I started thinking about things that could go wrong and potentially not work out. I was scared of not being able to bring this idea to life.” – Amy .
Q: How do you handle criticism and feedback from students? What steps do you take to improve your club?
“I use criticism to to grow in not to put me down because I am more than what the criticism is and I know the potential I have to bring something to life and make it real.” – Amy .
“I take the feedback that people give and use that to improve the club.” – Ali .
Q: What new projects, events, or activities are you excited to do at your club?
“I am excited for the field trips that we are planning for the future.” – Amy .
“I’m excited to go ice skating with the people from the club.” – Ali .
“We’re excited to start fundraising and find creative ways to raise money. Our goal is to eventually create items with our Colors of Culture label so we can spread our message and make our presence felt throughout the school and beyond.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
Colors of Culture Poster.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of running Colors of Culture? How do you manage to keep a balance between schoolwork and running your club?
“The most rewarding part of the colors of culture club and running it for me is seeing how engaged and how much people have fun. People ask about when our next meeting is going to be. Seeing others this way makes me feel like the cause of the purpose of the club is being fulfilled. There’s a lot of work that goes into running a club but But it is all worth it in the end. A lot of planning ahead Is needed to be able to balance running a club and schoolwork.” – Amy .
“The most rewarding part of running Colors of Culture is seeing everything we once thought come to life.” – Ali .
“The most rewarding part of running Colors of Culture is the feedback we get from students. It genuinely makes me smile when, on days without a meeting, kids come up to us asking when the next one is going to be. That simple question shows us how much this club means to them, and it reminds me that we’re creating something students truly enjoy and look forward to. Knowing that our meetings have become a place where they feel excited, welcomed, and understood makes all the time and effort worth it. We’ve worked hard to find a balance that keeps the club enjoyable instead of stressful, which is why we meet once a month. With so many members and responsibilities inside and outside of school, having weekly meetings would be overwhelming for both the leaders and the students. By meeting monthly, we’re able to plan thoughtfully, add creative activities, and make sure each session has a real purpose.” – Rosmeri Menjivar.
Colors of Culture at the Pep Rally that occurred on 11/23/25!
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
“I am happy with the success of the club and I look forward to the future of the Colors of Culture club. I am happy that I came up with this idea and I am happy to be the president of a wonderful organization.” – Amy .
Get in Touch w/ Colors of Culture!
Instagram: @colorsofculture_dmhs
TikTok: @colors_of_culture_dmhs
After hearing from Amy, Ali, and Rosmeri about their journeys, what can you take away from their experiences? How can you turn what feels like a small idea into a movement that inspires others? Can you relate to the challenges they’ve faced in balancing school, work, and leadership while still building something meaningful for students at Doherty?
The Colors of Culture club shows us that representation matters, and that even one student’s idea can grow into a space where many voices are celebrated. Their stories highlight the importance of community, teamwork, and pride in their roots — lessons that go far beyond high school classrooms. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to share your thoughts or words of encouragement about the club by clicking the comment button on your right-hand side. Stay tuned for more spotlight interviews.
