 "Photo: N/A")
Over the years, Professor Maria Quintero-Pi has taught students many valuable lessons. But one thing people are often unaware of is her passion for instilling the Hispanic Heritage into others and truly knowing what it means to be an American.
In 1959, Pi’s father, Elías Quintero voted Fidel Castro into office; strongly believing that he was a democratic leader. Shortly after he was elected, Castro started showing signs of socialism.
One year later, 11-year-old Quintero-Pi and her family fled to the United States.
"My father made the arrangements and we were gone," said Quintero-Pi. "We left with nothing, just the clothes on our back."
Once they arrived in America, the Cuban refugees settled in Ybor City. Each day after school, Quintero-Pi would help her parents run Casa León Cigar, a cigar factory located behind the Columbia restaurant.
Although she was living in the land of the free, life was not always fair. In 1964, Quintero-Pi was a student, at Memorial Junior High. One day during lunch, she was sent to the principal’s office for talking with friends in Spanish. “They sent me to the principal’s office because [the staff] thought I was talking about them,” said Quintero-Pi.
Instead of harboring bitterness, Quintero-Pi realized the importance of helping others understand the Hispanic language and culture.
“Discrimination is ignorance,” said Quintero-Pi. “If you understand person’s language and their culture then you have nothing to fear.”
"In our countries, we eat meals together as a family, there is always someone home when the kids do homework, and it’s not uncommon for children to live at home until they are 22 or 23," said Quintero-Pi.
"Even when a woman gets married, her family identity still remains strong.Our maiden names are apart equally apart of last names, and they come before our husband’s, said Quintero- Pi.
In America my last name is hyphenated, but in our countries the hyphen would be replaced with “De” which means "wife of," said Quintero-Pi.
Although Quintero- Pi is very proud of her roots, she never wants her three children to forget they are Americans.
In the late 70s, Quintero-Pi remembers a student from Miami who refused to pledge allegiance to the flag even though he was born here. Determined her kids would not grow up to speak Spanish at the expense of the English language, she moved back to Tampa.
In college, Quintero-Pi studied Spanish education with a minor in French, earning both a bachelor and masters degree from the University of South Florida.
Quintero-Pi began teaching full-time at HCC in 1988. Prior to that, she taught at Berkley Preparatory School during the day, and was an adjunct French professor for HCC at night.
As a Spanish teacher, Quintero- Pi feels she is very hard on her students. I want them to realize your education is the one thing people can’t take away from you, said Quintero-Pi.
Quintero-Pi also tries to instill a sense of giving, in her students as well. For the past two years, Quintero-Pi has required her classes to purchase folders and scantrons from her at reduced rates. In return, she takes that money and donates it to World Vision, an organization that helps provide clean drinking water to the children in Africa.
“We cannot forget this is America and we are blessed to be here,” said Quintero- Pi.
Be the first to comment on this article!