THE ROAD HEC'S TRAVELED

Hector Luis Alamo, Jr.
My experiences this semester have taught me to exercise more control over my life. Looking back on how I used to be at the beginning of the semester (by rereading my older posts on my blog and tracking my inner growth from the beginning of the semester until now), I’m satisfied with the changes I’ve exhibited in these few months. At the start, I was borderline complacent with my life--I allowed myself to be acted on instead of taking action myself. Forgiving me for being cliché, I was sitting in the bleachers when I should have been on the field.

What I’ve learned this semester is that life is for living. If there are things I want in life, if there are aspects of my life that I want to change--things I want to make better or eliminate entirely--I have all the tools to do so. I can make my life what ever I want it to be. Success and happiness merely take serious planning and a commitment to consistent, purposeful actions and behaviors. Success and happiness are not merely things that occur randomly. They are the products of hard work, the thoughtful organization of one’s priorities and obstacles, the know-how to acquire the appropriate information and other tools, and a proper sense of self to ensure the devotion needed to attain one’s goals.

Before this semester, I was waiting for my life’s path to be revealed just in front of me. While my future is beginning to unravel before me, it’s the future that I am building through conscientious evaluations of myself, my life, and my life goals. My mentality has shifted from being that of person waiting for the next move to come his way to that of a person eager to make those moves materialize when he wants them to. I am confident in my abilities, and through the knowledge and awareness I’ve gained by enrolling in this course, I am building confidence in my ability to initiate success in my life.

As many of you may remember, I experienced an exciting first this semester. I completed my very first assignment as a journalist working for a local neighborhood monthly newspaper. If anyone had told me I would be working for a small newspaper by the end of the year, I would’ve told them they were nuts. Hopefully, working for La Voz del Paseo Boricua will be an excellent learning experience for me and provide me with the skills I will need in furthering my career as a writer and journalist. I’m still much more inconsistent with my behavior than I would like to be; I need to practice being driven, motivated, organized, and active.

Unfortunately, I cannot offer my advice for improving the course or whatnot. My semester started a month late, and once I actually did attend my first class session, I had problems regularly attending and fulfilling certain requirements, such as homework and other projects. I wish I had taken advantage of this course more, as I think it’s the type of course that offers more benefits when committed to entirely. In the end, it’s my loss, and I have to count whichever benefits I have managed to snatch this semester.

However, where ever I attended and participated in this course, I fully enjoyed it. I’ve told friends and classmates about my experiences in this class, describing Leadership for Change as “pure fun” and “eye-opening.” There’s an informal, friendly, and personal feel to the class. People open up. We share ideas, fears, and goals. We celebrate our success together and empathize with each other’s failures and setbacks. The class’s whole environment fosters motivation and drive. A student is surrounded by other people taking charge of their life’s direction, and this makes one want to do the same. It’s an exciting feeling being a part of this class and its ambitions.

I’ve some interesting and unexpected role model experiences in the past couple weeks. I had the standard interview with the editor La Voz, Marisol, asking her: what motivated her initially and continues to motivate her?; what feelings or satisfaction does she experience through her work in journalism?; how has she managed setbacks?; and what advice does she have for me concerning my immediate future and my lifelong goals? It was interesting talking to her, because since she’s only a year or two older than I, I could easily relate with what she was telling me. Where talking to my other role models involved talking to older people who were further along in their careers, Marisol was only a few (albeit major) steps ahead of me. As a graduate student in Northwestern’s School for Journalism and an editor for a minor yet influential newspaper, she’s doing something I seriously hope to be doing myself in the near future.

I had hard times sessions with two other people who then reveal themselves to be role models themselves. Although Jodene is a museum administration for a small, local cultural institute, I found out that she, too, is a journalism grad student at Northwestern. I didn’t ask her any standard questions, since she was simply there to listen to my stress over certain situations in my life and offer her support in seeing me get through it all. It was exciting to learn of our shared dream of working for the Chicago Tribune in the future, and I will assuredly rely on her wisdom and experience as I start my journey to my goals in the upcoming months.

My final role model experience was with my history professor, Jose Lopez. Since one of my life goals is to become a professor of history myself, I really like setting aside time each week to have a discussion with him in his office. I’ve learned that he is quite active in the Puerto Rican community and the Humboldt Park area. His activism and community involvement and influence is something I aspire to possess. He told me that I had all the tools to succeed but just need to learn to prioritize my life and focus on achieve short-term and long-term goals.

As always, if anything, the role model experiences were insightful and reassuring.

I can’t wait to finish this semester up. I wouldn’t consider my performance these past few months as one of my finest, so I’m eager to limp out of this semester, count my loses, regroup, and finish my undergrad studies strong next semester. I’m also VERY ready to start the work of building a career in journalism and community activism and organizing.

PERSERVERANCE

First of all, as my partner Christine will tell you, I am completely sick right now. I don’t know how it happened. I got attacked with these flu like symptoms in a matter of hours!

I’m happy to report that I fulfilled my goals for the week. I wanted to find two new role models for the week, which I did. The first, a man by the name of Gary Fujimara, was recommended to me through one of my original role models, Allison. He apparently works for the Sun-Times in some capacity, but Allison wasn’t sure what is exact role in the company was. I wanted to calm him sooner, but my voice is so stuffed up, and my brain is pounding so much, that I wasn’t up to it in the least bit. I plan on calling him first thing after I’m cured from this bout. I still can’t believe that I’ve gotten sick twice in such a short amount of time. I guess my bodies just isn’t what it used to be.

My other two goals was to fill out my weekly planner and to apply to five positions (which I did through CareerBuilder.com). I plan on calling back in a few days to check up on the application process.

I met with Christine on Wednesday after class at 1 o’clock. It involved a pretty casual setting. I met with her in her dorm, and we just went through various aspects of the meeting. We spent some time catching up, talking about hard times--issues that had absolutely nothing to do with our goals but everything to do with our emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being. We had several things in common with regards to what detracts us from what we wish to achieve in life--family, friends, and romantic relationships. It was re-affirming to have someone convey to me the same feelings and anxieties that I feel myself. I’m really glad that she ended up being my partner, because we’ve hit it off since we met several weeks back.

I really don’t know what more there is to say. I’m trying to focus my mind on this post, but the fact that I cannot breathe out of my noise is annoying me to no end. I hope, more than anything, that I’m at least semi-normal tomorrow. As of now, I feel miserable, so wish me luck!

Even if I’m a zombie tomorrow, I will be in class to have my arm in that candy bag again. Doing what you plan on doing, no matter how difficult it may seem, is thrilling. My life goals seemed so much bigger than I could manage, but this class has taught me to put everything in perspective and devise plans of action to fulfill those ambitions. The wheels are moving, and I can only hope that I take what I learned in this class and use its lessons for the rest of my life.

I WISH LIFE HAD GUARD RAILS

This week was a bit uneventful in relation to the past weeks I’ve had, but there are a few things worth noting.

First, I only got to talk to one of my role models (making me think that I should start work on an entirely different set of potential contacts), but I did get Dawn’s contact number. Unfortunately, she said that she would be unavailable this weekend but to call her first thing in the morning on Monday, so I’m anxiously awaiting the chance to actually speak with her, especially after so many weeks. Before bed, I’m going to make a simple outline of questions I want to ask and topics I want to touch on during our phone conversation.

I spoke with a distant family friend, Allison, who works for the Boston Globe and received a Master’s degree in journalism from Harvard a few years back. I met her a couple years ago at a family function. She had heard through my ex-girlfriend’s mother (who was her college roommate at Brandeis) that I had done a lot of writing on my blog, and having visited it a few times before, she was one of the very first people to encourage me to pursue a career in writing.

Calling her involved a lot of casual conversation: catching up, asking about how things are going for her in Boston, her asking how things were going with school and life. Then I started to ask her things pertaining to her career. I asked her what got her into journalism in the first place, what kind of fulfillment does she gain from writing, and how she copes during phases of discouragement. It was an insightful conversation, to say the least. It was also very encouraging, because I realized that I could actually be happy if I dedicate myself to this type of life, the life of a writer. Her words and advice helped orient my goals and filled me with a sense of purpose. She offered to be my mentor during my early stages, and I promised to keep in touch from time to time, coming to her with updates on my progress and any new questions or concerns that will undoubtedly arise. I also congratulated her on her new book on prescription drugs (which I had heard was getting terrific reviews). I was honored by her request that I read the book and give my thoughts on it. (Me? Who am I to critique her? It will be nerve-racking.)

Other than that, I started my search for a new job by revising my resume and applying to a few ads online. Also, I attended an interesting seminar Saturday morning on how to be docent (a museum tour guide). It may be something I would like to do on the side (being a history major and uncovering my new passion for Latino culture). I’m going to talk to the gentleman who conducted the seminar and explore that idea more with him.

I can’t remember what I put on my pink card for the week, but I hope I’ll have my arm elbow-deep in that candy bag come tomorrow night. Lord knows I need it! hahaha

DREAM WALL

GETTING MY FOOT IN THE DOOR

This week was a huge week for me! As it turned it out, I received an alert on my phone as I was leaving class last Monday night notifying me that one of my role models had left me an email. Dawn is a columnist for a major Chicago newspaper and someone whose work I've been following for at least three years. She asked if we could speak over the phone, and I let her know when the appropriate times to call me were. She hasn't gotten back to me as yet, but after leaving her another email today, I have no doubt that I will be talking to her soon. I'm just excited that she actually read my email to begin with, so the possibly that I might be talking to her and gaining some invaluable insights into the world of mainstream media has had me ecstatic all week.

I also discovered last weekend that Pioneer Press, a member of the Sun-Times News Group, has its headquarters in a neighboring town. I went in there on Tuesday, explained to them the circumstances of my visit, and got the opportunity to sit down with a gentleman who helped me set up a time that I could come in and talk to one of the contributing writers. We set up two days this week—Tuesday and Thursday—that I could come in a talk to a few people, so I'm both anxious and excited about that.

However, the biggest news came through my work in another class entirely. The events that transpired are so odd and random that my retelling might come out as a giant, confusing mess of a story, but I'll do my best to tell it.

I am enrolled in a Puerto Rican history class taught by Prof. Josè E. Lòpez. As part of the class, we are required to break off into groups of five or six and volunteer our time in the Puerto Rican community in and around the Humboldt Park neighborhood. My group concerns itself with cultural affairs, which has us dedicating some time to the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC) at Division Street and Humboldt Boulevard. Anyway, a few weeks back, a friend of a friend friended me on Facebook. She told me that she worked in the administration offices at Pedro Albizu Campos High School (an alternative school located in the community), and I told her that I was volunteering a great deal of time at the Institute. She told me that her roommate worked at the Institute, a woman by the name of Jodene. To my surprise, Jodene is actually my supervisor! Not only that, I found out last week that my new Facebook friend, Marisol, is also an editor for the community's monthly publication, La Voz del Paseo Boricua. I asked her to visit my main blog, and after reading it, she told me that she would love for me to contribute to the La Voz. She already assigned me my first topic! I have to submit an article on a local cafè and community theater center by next Monday to have it published in next month's issue of La Voz!

I know that this isn't exactly what I'm supposed to be doing in this class. I realize that we're supposed to working more closely with our role models and whatnot, but doesn't my success story illustrate what we've been learning in our texts, namely, that our life paths rarely remain unaltered from their original course? Opportunities seem to surface in the most unlikely places and in the most unexpected ways, but when they do, we should run through that open door with as much fervor and commitment as we can muster.

I have moved more towards my dream in the past seven days than I have in the past seven years. Not only are my goals in life possible, they are more likely than ever! I can't wait to see what the upcoming weeks will have in store for me!

CONTACTING MY ROLE MODELS

Hector Luis Alamo, Jr.
I realize that the purpose of this week's assignment was to discuss the experience of interviewing two of the role models whose contact information we listed for last week's assignment. Although I did attempt to reach several of my contacts, I have yet to hear back from any of them, leaving me unable to blog about any exchange with them. Nevertheless, rather than not turning in anything, I thought I might write about my feelings about the whole task of contacting people who I admire and respect in the first place.

IN LIMBO
When I first learned that I would be asked to get in contact with the same people I've come to idolize, I filled with a great sense of excitement and anticipation. Who wouldn't jump at the chance at reaching out to one of his role models? However, when the time came, I was beset by an entirely different range of emotions. In all honesty, the act of simply attempting to get in touch with my role models has been utterly nerve-racking. As human beings, we tend to hold our role models in the highest regard, so much so that they possess an almost mythic status in our eyes; they're seemingly imaginary. Compound that with the fact that these people actually do what it is I want to do—and do it well. This only adds to the intimidation. Many people admire Muhammad Ali, even though they never aspire to be a boxer. Even still, trying to contact the Champ would make anyone weak in the knees. In this aspect, my emailing my role models—respected writers—is like any young boxer stepping into the same gym as Ali.

It's especially unsettling for me, given the fact that I aspire to be a respected columnist and all of my role models are just that. Many of my role models' sole method of public communication is through email, which means that I am forced to introduce myself to them in the same form
they've perfected: the written word. Not only do I dream to attain their heights, emailing them places myself in a position to be judged on my writing skills by experts in the field. Boxers judge other boxers based on their skills in the ring; writers judge others on their mastery of words, making any introduction that much more frightening.

If writing the emails was nearly torturous, the fact that those emails are already sent is proving to be much more excruciating. Just knowing that I will be receiving a response at any moment is gnawing away at my serenity. I will both relish and dread the moment my Outlook inbox indicates that one or more of my recipients have responded. Obviously, I'm looking forward to reading their responses and taking in the advice they lend me, but I think it's human nature to expect the worst, say, a disgruntled letter from a person who wants nothing to do with me.

Whatever the result of this attempt at furthering myself along on my life path, I'm certain it will offer something valuable to the end. Good or bad, encouraging or not, at least I'll be able to say that I tried to contact one of my heroes, someone doing the exact thing I want to do one day. In life, no step can be negative. The worst thing someone can do when chasing his dream is to do absolutely nothing at all. Any step taken is a step towards reaching that goal.

GOALSEARCH

EXERCISE #1: What Is Your Touch Stone?

Dream: writer

Touchstone: influence and prestigue

Role Model: Gore Vidal

Target: Guest spot on Real Time with Bill Maher

EXERCISE #2: What Is Your Personality Type?

Personality Type
Extroverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Perceiving (ENFP)
(Extroverted Intuition with Introverted Feeling)

On completing the Myers-Briggs test online, I discovered that there may be some aspects of my personality that may keep me from succeeding in the way I want to. I have to be aware of my strengths and weaknesses in order to maintain a happy, fulfilling lifestyle. Other than that, there wasn't much insight that I gained from the test. As an ENFP, I already had a firm understanding of the various aspects of my personality. The most intriguing part of the test is its accuracy.