Research Symposium

BIO

Leen is a third-year student at Florida State University majoring in political science and economics. Coming from a multicultural environment of the Tampa Bay area as a Mexican-American has profoundly shaped his character and influenced his academic interests and aspirations, particularly with the goal of working in international governance. Since he's had experience with participating in Model UN programs, he aims in working for international organizations. This project marks his first experience participating in research, an opportunity he has found both exciting and meaningful. It has allowed him to bridge his personal background with his professional ambitions, connecting lived experience to academic inquiry. In the future Leen plans on going to graduate school to for international relations, followed by law school, continuing to build toward a career focused on global policy and advocacy.

What It Means to Be Latino: Exploring Identity Among U.S.-Born Gen Z Youth

Abstract

This research project investigates the complexity of identity within the United States, specifically that of Latino's born within a new generation - Generation Z. The purpose of this dissection of such a niche identity being the influence they have on society and vis versa, noting significant tensions between imposed categorizations and self-identification. Within this research project there has been a multitude of methods conducted in effort to assist in the investigation such as literature review of historical and statistical analysis, and in-person interview of human subjects.
We investigated the historical aspect of Latinos within the United States, through literature review noting a demonstration of a societal pattern in formation in individual structure that exists.

Keywords: Hispanic, culture, identity, multicultural, Gen Z