Dear Sandy, a letter of perseverance

by Sandy Chávez

Dear Sandy,

I wanted to write you a letter so in case you ever start to doubt yourself. You can remember how far you’ve come:

Do you remember 7th grade? You loved performing in drama class, because deep down you knew your personality was too big to be anything but fabulous on stage. That was the year you decided that you weren’t going to have a regular 9 to 5 job. You appreciated both parents working tirelessly to provide for you and your sister, even though though this meant they were always gone. You said you’d reach the stars for them. That triggered your infamous words.

“I’m going to be famous . . . I’m going to be on TV,” you said to anyone willing to listen to your crazy thoughts. It’s a quote you’d repeat to yourself over and over throughout the years, not knowing it was the start of your career in journalism.

Let’s fast forward through high school. Remember you were courageous enough to overcome the dropout stereotype. You went back and finished your high school diploma, and even completed your first degree. You’ve managed to work 40 hours a week and balance full-time student status — and that is an accomplishment on its own.

You met the love of your life in college: Radio. Remember the feeling of excitement and bliss rushing through your veins when you went live on the airwaves? This was the moment you felt that everything you envisioned when you were younger could be realized.

But most importantly, remember who you’ve become. The years of struggle, regret, and pain have made you stronger woman. You proved that with dedication and perseverance, anything is possible.

You’re now entering the real world, the world you only dreamed of in 7th grade. You’ve now completed NPR’s Next Gen Radio program and you are almost done with your Journalism degree. It’s time now for the cameras to roll, and for you to conquer your journey.

Love always,
Sandy Chávez