PIKE COUNTY, Pa. — The flags hanging on the walls of Jaddy Sorge's classroom at East Stroudsburg North High School showcase the diversity of the students in the English as a second language program.
"I am from Columbia. I lived there most of my life. I've been here for five years. It was really different because of the language, my friends," student Thomas Quintero from Columbia explained.
Their teacher can relate to that difference in culture. Sorge's family moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic.
"Me myself, being an ESL student, I came here when I was 9. It was scary, especially coming from such a different culture into this one you don't know the language, you don't know how to communicate with people," explained ESL teacher Jaddy Sorge.
This group of students is in the advanced English as a second language class.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, they're working on projects centered around this year's theme.
"The theme of pioneers of change: shaping the future, is because they are the future, they are the ones that are going to be here way past us, they have to make sure in their world, and their country is sustainable for them and their families," explained Sorge.
The students are coming up with unique ways to celebrate their heritage.
"I am doing a podcast about how we should get together, and not just Hispanics, like all of us, and share our cultures of food and clothes," said Quintero.
"My project is about getting everybody together and learning about each other's cultures… so we learn that even though we are from different cultures, we are all the same people, and we can be together," said student Alan Urvaec from the Dominican Republic.
The students say they hope their projects go far beyond the walls of their classrooms.
"I would like to make the community see how when we do things together, we reach higher and accomplish our goals," said student Hugo Sanchez from Guatemala.
One pioneer of change, hoping to inspire the next generation.