Latina journalist urges students to pursue dreams
By LETY VERDUZCO
News Writer
Sandra Guzman, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and former editor-in-chief of Latina magazine, encouraged students in a lecture to follow their dreams and not be deterred by the opinions of others.
"No one has a right to tell you what your dream is," she said. "If today I am here, if I followed my dream against all odds, so can you."
The lecture, "Latina Leadership in the New Millennium," was nicknamed "Hispanic 101" by Guzman.
Guzman started from humble beginnings to become a published author and famous journalist. Her book, "The Latina's Bible" will be released Feb. 26 by Random House.
"I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth," she said. "I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth."
Guzman was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New Jersey when she was 9.
She came to this country speaking no English except the few words of a children's song. She is the second in her family to go to college. Guzman's first job after college was a receptionist in publishing house.
Emphasis was placed on not only the obstacles she faced as moved toward her dream but at the obstacles she faced once she achieved it.
She talked about the obstacles surrounding interracial dating and marriage and the reality of prejudice and discrimination. The most important thing she said for Latinos is how to get over their family. This is the first topic she discusses in her book.
Guzman explained how Hispanic families could sometimes hinder an up and coming woman.
She talked about machismo in the Hispanic culture and how women were the ones who did all of the domestic chores while husbands and brothers sit back.
"We (Latinas) are raised and socialized to nurture," she said. "The challenge for Latinas is to locate the `servant' button and to know when to turn it off."
After getting over the socialized pull to serve, the Latina, Guzman went on to emphasize what the next and last important thing for Latina women was, to decided what she wants to do and do it.
In a pre-lecture banquet, Guzman ate dinner at Haggar Parlor with Saint Mary's faculty and students.
Conversation surrounding the dinner focused on what the Latina students of Saint Mary's, who were present at the banquet, wanted to do with their future.
"There should be no ifs in your vocabulary, you have to decide what you want to do and do it," she told the students.
Contact Lety Verduzco at
verd8852@saintmarys.edu
All News Stories for Thursday, September 27, 2001
