Today's students want, deserve, and need to become bilingual and biliterate.

The article focuses on Alexcia Garcia, a recent Texas high school graduate, and her experiences and perspectives on bilingual education and its role in cultural identity. Alexcia highlights the importance of maintaining Spanish alongside English, noting that bilingualism connects her to her Mexican heritage and offers cognitive, cultural, and professional benefits. She expresses concern about educational trends that prioritize English at the expense of students' home languages, advocating for inclusive bilingual programs supported by adequate funding and policy. Alexcia envisions a future where all students have access to bilingual education, emphasizing the need for educators and policymakers to foster linguistic diversity and support English language learners effectively.