Inspiring Success

By Jose Alfredo Hernandez

The key to motivating the children of Santa Ana is by instilling a belief in themselves. The belief that anything they put their mind to, can be achieved.

When we first arrived to the United States, my family and I resided for the first 6 months in the one car garage of my grandmother's house (we are a family of 5). We then moved to a 2 bedroom house which we had to share with 2 aunts and 1 uncle. My mother and father both had to work hard just to make ends meet. Neither my mother and father finished High School, neither spoke, read or wrote English.

Nevertheless, they were always instilling in me that (1) "Seras lo que tu quieras ser" --translated, "You will become what you want to become."; (2) My father instilled in me that the key to success was my education. He often told me that we were of limited means and that the only inheritance I would receive would be my education, to take advantage of it; (3) They lead by example. My father was always reading to us, as was my mother. They would check our homework even when they did not understand what they were checking (simply on principle) and my mother would graduate from High School, one year after I did.

My parent's involvement, their nurturing, their refusal to build an excuse for me and their unrelenting belief that their motivation would make me achieve, lead me to a belief in myself. I was praised, I was corrected, I was taught, and I was always told that I could accomplish anything I wanted.

The word "can't" did not exist in my vocabulary. My parent's dedication along with the support of many caring teachers, enabled me to achieve my dreams and accomplish most of my goals.

I did not speak a word of English when I first arrived. I had to go through the English as a Second Language program before getting into regular classes, eventually getting to Honors and Finally the Advanced Placement classes.

I have become an attorney dedicated to helping those less fortunate in my community. I am a public servant as Board President. I volunteer where I can ...

I am leading by example ... hoping to inspire another child ...

The success of my Santa Ana students begins with a belief in themselves. A belief that they will in fact succeed.

I believe that children are waiting to be praised, waiting to be motivated ... they are waiting to be inspired and believed in.