As one who knows Soto Street and Boyle Heights first hand, Louis Barajas knows what it is like to grow up and hear that his chances for success are limited because the college of his choice is too far from home, or to have parents who do not speak English, or to be just another "kid from Boyle Heights."
On Jan. 17, Barajas --- the nationally noted author of "The Latino Journey to Financial Greatness" and the forthcoming "Small Business, Big Life" --- told the 355 students at Bishop Mora Salesian High School in East Los Angeles that success is indeed attainable, regardless of background or circumstance.
Making his third speaking visit to Salesian, this year as part of the school's "Excellence in East Los Angeles" Success Speaker Program, Barajas told his young audience that they were among a select few in their neighborhood just to have the opportunity to attend Salesian. "Most of you in this school are highly blessed," he said.
But many young people in the community, he added, give up and do not reach their potential; they allow themselves to be defeated and fail. As "just another kid from Boyle Heights," he said the key to success is to always to stay on track, as in "TRAC," his four pillars of greatness: T for truth; R for responsibility; A for awareness; and C for courage.
Barajas also challenged students to define their own meaning of "success." When he was younger, he thought success meant leaving the community, going to college, getting a big job and making a large amount of money --- which he did. After earning an MBA, Barajas worked for a large firm in Newport Beach and became an auditor on the Lincoln Savings and Loan/Charles Keating case.
But in 1991 he realized that he needed a change, to rethink where he was going in life, and moved his family back to East Los Angeles, opened an office, and became a certified financial planner. "Seeking the truth," he said, was most important as he asked himself, "What is your final destination?" and "How do you want to make the journey?"
Using music and clips from films like "The Dead Poets Society," Barajas emphasized over and over again that each student can do something great and lead a great life. "Make your lives extraordinary," he urged.
Living the truth, taking responsibility, developing a voice, realizing that money is neither bad nor good, living courageously and overcoming fear all contribute to success. Barajas reminded students of an old Spanish saying: "Tell me who are your friends, and I will tell you who you are."
"Have good mentors," he told the students. "Find people who have achieved what you want to achieve. Be great." And finally, "Go Mustangs!"
Before his presentation, Barajas spoke of the need "to plant the seeds of greatness in the minds of our youth as early as possible. This is a remarkable country, where anyone who has the desire can achieve greatness. It is imperative we instill that belief system in our teens, particularly in low-income areas, so they can dream and set goals that enable them to aspire to, and take leadership positions in, the global economy."
"He really connected well with the students," Chris Villarreal, Salesian ASB President, said following Barajas' presentation. "We know where he was from and we knew how he came up. He is a great inspiration and we want to see more people like that come out of East Los Angeles."
Freddy Robles, president of the Letterman Society and fellow ASB officer, said, "I hope to do something like he did one day. I'm actually looking forward to it. I want to go to Stanford, and someday come back." |