APTOS — As former NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez walked on stage, students from all across the county and beyond rose to their feet, filling the theater teeming with teens with a cacophony of cheers and screams.
They were there with their parents and family to participate in the 9th annual Latino Role Models Conference, held at Cabrillo College’s Crocker Theater — an event aimed at inspiring the youth and introducing them to groups and tools that can help them succeed.
Event organizer Nereida Robles said one of the messages they want to share is that they are not alone, that there are people and resources out there for them.
“We are celebrating our Latino role models, motivating our youth, providing them with role models that can inspire them to become professionals in the future,” she said. “I just want them to feel inspired and motivated to know they can do it too — yes there are obstacles and barriers, but if they wake up every day thinking ‘I can do the same,’ there’s a future for them.”
Beyond panels and guest speakers, colleges and universities including Cabrillo College, Cal Sate Monterey Bay, and UC Santa Cruz were there to provide admissions and financial aid advice. Student-led clubs also had booths at the event to lend their support to their potential future classmates.
Consul General Juan Manuel Calderon-Jaimes said their mission for holding these events is very clear — education.
“The principle idea is to motivate our community, our Latino community, especially our Mexican community,” he said. “They have to go to High School, they have to go college, they have to go to University.”
And as students waited for the keynote speaker, it seemed as if many of them had already set their sights high.
Stephanie Alonso, 16, said she had been coming to this event for years, simply because it inspires her and motivates her to push herself in her studies and toward her goal of attending a four-year college. She hopes one day to become a pediatrician.
“I always think about how hard school is, but I see that if someone else can do it who has a similar story as me, I know I can do it,” she said. “I want that feeling, that confidence.”
She was especially excited for the keynote speaker.
“He has really gone far in his career — also we are from the same place in Mexico, and I feel connected,” Alonso said.
From Michoacán, Mexico, Hernandez said events like this one demonstrate the importance of education and a cohesive family unit, and empowers kids to believe “the sky is not the limit anymore.”
“Role models are very important, and role models that look like them are super important,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez relayed how his parents had created an environment and structure that gave him the tools to succeed, and that he had been further inspired by a role model of his own — Dr. Franklin Chang Diaz, from Costa Rica, who was the first Latin American chosen to travel to space. His dream of going up into space began at 10 years old, watching the last Apollo mission on a black and white TV. However, what convinced Hernandez he could reach that goal was watching, hearing and reading about Diaz, and realizing he had a history “very similar to me.”
When he did get chosen by NASA, his success was a long time coming. Hernandez was rejected 11 times before being selected as a mission specialist on board the Space Shuttle Discovery.
“I did everything I thought humanly possible to attract NASA, and it wasn’t until the 12th time,” he said. “That is one of the lessons — never give up on yourselves.”
This message of perseverance comes during a difficult time for the Hispanic community, according to Hernandez.
“Even when I was young, I didn’t see so much animosity against immigrants from wherever they come here in the US,” he said. “In certain aspects I think it is more challenging today than it was in the past, which is sad to say. Hence the need for us to preach the good gospel of education.”
Shoreline Middle School Student Leslie Valdivia, 13, said she was inspired knowing that the speakers were once like her. Her first time attending the conference, she said their perseverance is what stands out.
“I wanted to see how people actually got here, how they overcame their obstacles,” she said. “It’s important so you can know that you can also persevere in your life — I know I actually have a chance to be someone in this world.”