Talon Marks Presents:

What does the American flag represent for you?

Hi, I am Alexander Alvarado, I am a paralegal student here at Cerritos College.

Clemente: What does the American flag represent for you?

Alvarado:

It means a lot of things, it’s kind of conflicting there is sometimes I see the American flag as something that is a strong symbol and I identify as American for it, but the other part of me, I am first generation American, so I do see that flag as a symbol as you know kind of hope and prosperity.

Sometimes to get to that point is very hard and it’s very difficult to get to that American dream. So, it’s kind of there and it’s frustrating for a lot of people to see that flag that, sometimes they can reach it but sometimes they can’t and that’s how I kind of see it.

I see it kind of both sides it’s a beautiful symbol but it’s also untenable sometimes to have that flag.

Clemente: Why do you see it on that way?

Alvarado:

I saw how my parents struggled while growing up, you know they want to have that dream, that perfect dream but you know sometimes it doesn’t really work out for the best.

Although sometimes it does because I’ve seen my dad thrive while my mom didn’t really thrive that well, so you know it’s one of does things.

Clemente: Thank you so much.

Alvarado: You’re Welcome.

My name is Cristina Morua

Clemente: How many years do you have here in Cerritos?

Morua: Almost two years.

Clemente: What does the American flag represent for you?

Morua: It represents literally for me, it’s the 50 states for the stars and the 13 colonies for the stripes, liberty and just being proud to be an American.

Clemente: Why does it represent that for you?

Morua: Just mostly because of everything that had to happen, so we can get here today.

Hello, my name is Carlos Mera, and I am a Physics Instructor here at Cerritos College.

Clemente: What does the American flag represent for you?

Mera: It represents freedom everything that we stand for equality, our way of life, hope, and being happy.

Clemente: Why does it represent that?

Mera: Because being in this country we get opportunities that we normally couldn’t get in other places.

You can try as hard as you want, you can get further just by doing your good effort there is a way for you to progress that you cannot get in other places and that’s why the flag is important for me.

Student Daniel Rios, Freshman

Clemente: What does the American flag represent for you?

Rios: Freedom.

Clemente: Why does the American flag represent freedom for you?

Rios: That’s how I grew up believing.

My name is Eduardo Sanchez, and I am a Sophomore at Cerritos College.

Clemente: What does the American flag represent for you?

Sanchez: The American flag to me, it represents the need to push and secure our own freedom.

America is a land of freedom, but people are trying to use it in a different way, and we must change that.

Clemente: Why does the American flag represent that to you?

Sanchez: Because we need to protest, join many groups, and fund the groups, if possible, to work hard for our ideals.

My is name Montse Polanco.

Clemente: What does the American flag represent for you?

Polanco: It represents freedom, and the drive that I have, to be able to run my own life. To have what I want and whatever I feel like doing of course within the laws, but for my dreams can be infinite.

Clemente: Why does the American flag represent that for you?

Polanco: My parents come from a harsh background, and they migrated here to have a better opportunity for themselves and for me and I’m very grateful for that.

Student Clarissa Garcia, Freshman

Clemente: What does the American flag represent for you?

Garcia: Freedom.

Garcia: The reason why the American flag represents freedom to me is because that is what I grew up believing and that’s what I feel when I see an American flag.

Reporting from Talon Marks, Melissa Clemente Co. Sports, Photo Editor.