John Quiñones Gives Inspiration to ETS Students

By: Monica Aviles

On December the 15th, ABC News correspondent, and the current host of What Would You Do? John Quiñones delivered a miraculous speech and advice to ETS students.

ETS (Educational Talent Search) is a TRIO program that assists students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides many sources and support such as: encouragement, academic, career, and financial counseling. 

The Fresno State Educational Talent Search program began in 1994, the high schools they work with are: Firebaugh High School, Mendota High School, Redwood High School, Riverdale High School, Tulare Western High School, and Tulare Union High School. A special invitation was given to only ETS students who were given the opportunity to attend the Zoom, and ask questions directly to Quiñones who quickly accepted the request to be there.

Quiñones grew up on the Westside of San Antonio, Texas. He is the first in his family to go to college much like the majority of ETS students, “I never thought I’d be where I am today when I was  a little boy, because the odds were stacked against me.” He grew up in a tough area with very little money, he started shining shoes at age eight, later on would pick cherries for 75 cents a buckets,“Maya Angelou once said we all marvel at the beauty of a butterfly, but seldom do we consider all the changes that butterfly has to go through to attain that beauty.”

He retells the story of when he was thirteen years old, picking tomatoes at 6 am, looking down the infinite rows, and his father said to him, “Juanito, do you want to do this kind of work for the rest of your life, or do you want to go to college someday?” Quiñones knew for a fact that he wanted to go to college, but no one believed in him, “I was from the barrio, I spoke with a funny accent, my skin was brown, I went to a school where hardly anyone went to college…” It wasn’t until Upward Bound (A TRIO program like ETS) picked him as one of the few students to be in their program, that was when doors finally opened for him, “I wouldn’t be here today, I wouldn’t be the man I am, had it not been for Upward Bound.” The TRIO program, Upward Bound, changed his life for the better, and is helping many other young students succeed.

“Don’t give up. Whatever comes up against you, cross over those hurdles.”

In many ways, Quiñones was told he couldn’t get far in life, his teachers would say, “John it’s wonderful you have this dream of becoming a TV reporter, but we think you should try wood shop, metal shop, or auto mechanics.” But his mother always supported him in what he wanted to do, his mother explained that what mattered was Quiñones brain and heart, not the color of his skin or culture.

At a young age Quiñones was always interested in journalism, “Journalism is a candle in the darkness…The journalist shines the candle at the darkest corner in the room to eliminate the injustice…I just wanted to shine light on stories that were totally put in the darkness.” He also wanted to travel the world, he’s traveled to Salvador, Nicaragua, Africa, Iraq, etc.

Despite having bad grades, and no scholarships, he was still able to pay for college with loans, grants, and by working. He had three jobs: one in the geology department at a university, in the cafeteria, and as a drug store delivery man. “I just kept knocking at financial aid doors, don’t let that ever stop you from getting ahead.” He eventually got a masters in Journalism at Columbia University in New York due to a fellowship he received. 

For students who want to follow the same pathway of Journalism, Quiñones recommends you read, practice in front of a camera, improve your voice, get internships at any radio or tv station, “just get your foot in the door, doesn’t matter if you’re getting coffee for the anchorman, what you’re getting to see is so valuable, because you’re getting an idea of how it works.” He also explains how you shouldn’t feel bad if you get rejected by an internship, just keep working through all the obstacles.

“Sometimes I think us Latinos have to be twice as qualified as other people to get the job…and so I became twice as qualified.”

A challenge Quiñones faced in the beginning of his career path was his shyness, “I had to get over that, and so I tried out for drama to force myself to speak up and come out of my shell.” He knew that if he wanted to become a reporter, to be on stage without being shy, he had to get over all his fears. Through drama class and getting the role of Romeo, he earned the skill to be assertive and use his voice, “I would like the people who see me on television to see that I’m genuine, and that I’m not putting on a show.” 

“Don’t hold back, don’t let anyone tell you you’re not college material, or that your parents didn’t go to college…If I can make my dreams come true, then of course you can do that too.”

Quiñones inspiration to keep on going even with people rejecting him, saying he couldn’t succeed, was his family, “I wanted to make my mother, Maria, proud. I wanted to give back what they gave me, they struggled and sacrificed so much for me…I wanted to make my community proud, and show Hispanic people what they’re capable of.” A quote that Quiñones strongly remembers that Peter Jennings told him, “Don’t worry so much about interviewing the movers and shakers (presidents, politicians, corporations) of the world, concentrate on talking to the moved and shaken (victims of war, the poor).”

Some things John Quiñones would love to do in the near future is interview the Pope, tour Italy, go back to visit Africa, and continue to give a voice to the voiceless.

Here is the WWYD website: https://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo

Fresno State ETS website: https://fresnostate.edu/studentaffairs/talentsearch/

Tags: celebrity, fresno state