In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, students at Park Avenue Elementary S chool in the Amityville Public School District hosted Babylon Town Councilman Tony Martinez and Suffolk County

Youth Bureau Executive Director Lou Medina. Both guests spoke with the student body about their Hispanic heritage and their journeys to becoming a politician and a youth program director, and sent a firm message to the third through sixth grade classes to stay in school and acquire an education.

“It is important for every single one of you to go to college,” Medina stated. “Without a college education, it will be difficultfor you to get a good job.”

Martinez related his childhood experiences in El Salvador and the challenges of having to learn English upon enrollment in Long Island schools. Martinez is an alumnus of the Lynbrook Public School District and credited his ability to learning the English language because he had a “teacher who cared.” He commented that nothing in this world is easy. “Success is not one giant leap, but many tiny steps,” he told the students.

Born to Puerto Rican parents, Medina is bilingual. He told the students that his parents would show him their overworked hands as an icemaker and factory worker to encourage him to get a proper education. He asked the students to stay in touch with their special teachers and know that a person can be anything they want to be.

As an added treat, Amityville Memorial High School students from the Spanish Club demonstrated a number of Hispanic dances to the elementary students and teaching staff.

Shown in the photo are Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School students with guest speakers Suffolk County Youth Bureau Executive Director Lou Medina and Babylon Town Councilman Tony Martinez during a school assembly to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.