Two Homelands, One Heart: Victor Luna-Mata ’26 Embarks upon Harmony & Empowerment at the Mount

Victor, a junior Financial Economics major, has been making the most of his time at the Mount. He has plenty of friends, great relationships with professors, and aspirations to secure a "purposeful and impactful career, something that holds meaning not only in the present but for years to come." However, Victor's current success at the Mount has not come without struggle.

Adapting to college is difficult for most. It's a whole new environment filled with no shortage of new, unfamiliar faces. For Victor, the challenges presented by adapting to a new environment in college were especially present. Victor found himself in a unique position of not just adapting to college at the Mount, but adapting to an entirely new culture. Victor hails from Dominican heritage, meaning that while navigating college, he has also faced the difficulties of balancing the Dominican culture he comes from with the American culture that surrounds him.

"Adapting to a new cultural environment has come with its challenges, including adjusting to a different pace of life, overcoming language barriers, and navigating the experience of being a minority in my community," says Victor. "The American lifestyle is much more fast-paced compared to the more relaxed rhythm of life in the Dominican Republic."

While multiple challenges were presented to Victor as a result of having to balance his Dominican culture with his American environment, the most pressing of all was the challenge of being unable to relate to peers.

"I often found myself as one of the few students with a similar cultural background, making it difficult at times to find peers who could fully relate to my experiences," explains Victor. It was difficult for Victor to get involved in activities at the Mount, as he struggled to relate to others and was constantly left wondering whether he should embrace his Dominican culture or lean into American customs.

Victor eventually found that the answer was to embrace both and find a balance.

"I discovered that people genuinely appreciate the social and welcoming nature of Dominican culture, as well as the drive and efficiency often associated with American culture," explains Victor. "Bringing a mix of both allowed me to contribute meaningfully while staying true to myself." While embracing some aspects of American culture, Victor has maintained his Dominican heritage in a way that has allowed him to be his authentic self. He remains deeply connected to his Dominican heritage through food, music, and language. But most importantly, he notes, "I share my culture with others."

As Victor explains, sharing his Dominican culture with others has been especially impactful. "Seeing people express curiosity and interest in learning about a culture different from their own makes it easier to bridge gaps between people and build meaningful connections." By finding a balance between Dominican and American culture, Victor has been able to make plenty of friends at the Mount and find a sense of belonging. One experience at the Mount he recalls as a testament to this fact is the Spring Formal. "That night, I had conversations with people I wouldn't normally interact with," says Victor. "And I even danced, something I don't do often!"

Victor is thankful for the environment that the Mount has provided to him, explaining, "The Mount has provided me with an environment where I can excel academically, thanks in large part to the strong student-to-professor ratio." Thanks to the student-to-professor ratio at the Mount, Victor has also been able to build meaningful relationships with his professors. "I have never felt like just another statistic here," says Victor. "My professors genuinely take the time to engage with students." Knowing that he has a place at the Mount has driven Victor to become his best self in every way possible. "Whether as a student contributing to classroom discussions, a friend supporting my peers, or a role model for future college students, I recognize that I have a purpose here."

Victor encourages any student just beginning their journey at the Mount to take a simple word of advice: "Make this experience what you want it to be." If your goal is academic success, commit to it, attend classes, and study hard. If your goal is to make meaningful connections with peers, put yourself out there and at the Mount, you'll be welcomed with open arms. And to anyone facing the challenge of adapting to a new cultural environment, Victor says: "I encourage you to embrace every opportunity with confidence. Even if you have butterflies in your stomach, do it anyway."

"Best of luck!"