Elsa M. Nunez- President, Eastern Connecticut State University
Advice:
My family immigrated to New Jersey in the mid-1950s from the western highlands of Puerto Rico, when I was eight years old. At first, I could not speak a word of English, but I worked hard at it and eventually did well at school. My father sent me to the best Catholic high school for girls in New Jersey, and throughout my high school career, I took a bus every day from Newark to Belleville, New Jersey.
As a Latino—and one of the few in my school—I knew that I was not looked upon by the nuns with the same feelings they had for other more affluent and established families in school.
I recall a critical moment in high school that was very important in giving me confidence and raising my self-esteem. It was my sophomore English class and the teacher had given us an assignment to research a topic and then give an oral presentation in front of class. I remember going towards the end of the group. Some of the girls hadn’t taken the project very seriously and they stood giggling, nervous. The nun was getting very angry because she could see that the other girls weren’t prepared.
As I saw them go up and perform poorly, I was especially determined to do a good job. When my turn came, I went up with my one little note card, because the nun had said we could use one. When I finished, I turned to the teacher and asked her, “Do you have any questions, sister?” And she said to me, “Oh my God, Elsa. I had no idea that you could do this.”
It was the first time in high school that I was recognized as a competent student. Up until that point, I was just a number. I was viewed as being one of the girls who didn’t care. That was the first time that a nun had noticed me.
These types of moments happen in our lives for a reason. There are situations every day when we learn something new, but moments such as the one I have just described are seminal—it is as if the ink our brains use to encode them is permanent and they are etched in bold in our minds. I realized that day that when you combine hard work, perseverance and assertiveness, you can have success no matter where you come from.
I also realized then — and this is a lesson I have carried with me since that day — that we have to stand away from the crowd sometimes to stand out. In high school, when “who likes who” is so important, and we live and die by what our friends think of us, it is much safer to stick with the group, do what everyone else does (or doesn’t do), and know we are safe in the comforts of” the herd.” But too often, sticking with the majority simply means reinforcing bad behavior or indifference. Leaders — at every age — are the people willing to do what is right and perform at their best, even when it may mean that they make others around them uncomfortable. In the long haul, people will respect you for doing the right thing and going the “extra mile.”
My advice to young girls would be to follow that same path. Have the courage to dream of great heights; work hard to grow and achieve those dreams; take advantage of opportunities when they arise; be confident in your abilities; and stand tall in doing what you believe is the right thing to do, no matter what the crowd around you might think. Be true to who you are.