The hidden struggles of bilingual Latine youth in America

Dr. Vanesa Mora Ringle

As a bilingualclinical psychologist and immigrant, I have seen firsthand the unique challenges—and notable strengths—of Latine youth facing the combined stresses of trauma, cultural identity, and educational systems that often overlook both challenges and strengths.

My recent research at Lehigh University’s College of Education examined how exposure to violence and posttraumatic stress influence the academic performance of Latine middle schoolers, and more importantly, the vital role that language use plays in the learning process.

The findings are both sobering and urgent: students who speak Spanish more often and have experienced recent violence tend to have significantly lower GPAs. At the same time, students who speak less Spanish but show higher symptoms of p