On October 9, 2026, ETA Leyden Streed celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with the English Club at SMK Negeri 11, Semarang. As a diverse country, what it means to be “American” can look so many different ways. That diversity is something Leyden has especially enjoyed getting to highlight and engage students with.

In the U.S., September 15th – October 15th is a time to celebrate Hispanic and Latino people and their impact on the U.S. Leyden brought this celebration to the English Club, sharing some history and cultural impacts made by Latino people in the U.S. She also incorporated her own experience, talking about her family’s Latino heritage and her own relationship with Latinidad.

Her favourite part of the day was introducing the students to a Latina icon Selena Quintanilla. Selena served as a form of representation for generations of Latino Americans and opened doors for so many Latino artists to come after her. It was fun to see students connect with the music and witness an example of how Latinos have impacted American culture. Students even participated in a basic Cumbia dance workshop, dancing together to Como La Flor. Leyden is excited to celebrate more cultures in America and connect with students through hands-on cultural activities!

Leyden Streed is currently teaching at SMKN 11 Semarang, Jawa Tengah.