Josie Lopez

Could you tell me a little about your McNair research project and what the experience taught you?

The Ronald E. McNair Program is designed for underrepresented undergraduate students to gain experience in research and other academic activities. I did my McNair research in the summer before my junior year. I spent most of my sophomore year researching and planning out my work to attain the best possible outcomes over the summer.

My research was centered around ‘Spanglish,’ which is the combination of Spanish and English in the same sentence, and its appearance in literature. For example, "pero like" is used commonly. “Pero” in Spanish means “but” so essentially the individual is trying to say “but like,” using both Spanish and English to communicate. This is heard frequently in households that speak both languages and should be incorporated into Spanish literature as well. My research looked at how often literature did this—turns out, it’s not very often. I also looked at code switching, which is changing the way you speak in front of different groups. For example, the way I speak to Spanish speakers versus non-Spanish speakers is different. It is more confined and restricted. I explored this in greater context during my research. 

My original research explored the biological relationship between certain genes and the tendency to learn a second language. I realized I had more fun when I was doing the part about the Spanish language, rather than the part based in biology. The research project helped me realize that I did not want to do biology and I switched everything up. It was definitely scary and I gave up something I had worked very hard toward, but it taught me that it was okay to let go and do what is best for you. Jon Anderson, visiting professor of international studies, was a great help throughout the entire process. I am glad I had that support for my research. 

How did you end up as president of LoNuestro and what have you learned from this experience?

I joined LoNuestro, the Latinx club of Knox, late my first year when I wanted to break out of this little bubble I was in. LoNuestro provided me with exactly this opportunity. Being around more Spanish speakers brought this sense of home for me and I enjoyed being among them. I felt like I belonged and I wanted to give back to the community and be more involved in the decision-making process for the club. That is why I applied for the secretary position. Then I was the social chair and, finally, I became president. We have done a great deal to incorporate our culture into the community. For example, last year we made carnations and collaborated with the sorority Phi Beta Phi to sell them in order to raise money for an organization called Books for the Journey. The organization used these funds to provide Spanish-English dictionaries for migrants at the border. 

Organizing events for the club has not been easy. You definitely cannot please everybody. As president, I had to let go of some of my ideas for more popular ideas from others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people attended events that we organized. At first, it felt like a great deal of effort for no reason. I kept thinking I could use my time more fruitfully, but I persisted and now we have bigger turnouts. For example, this year we organized Dia de Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. We had not only members from the club, but also people from various different ethnicities. I cannot help but smile when we look at everyone coming together and celebrating our culture.