Paloma Magazine Volume 43

Rubén Pizarro is a great teacher, a
lawyer and community leader. He is
dedicated to strengthening the
educational process of our students. He
was born in Salinas, California in 1968.
As a child, accompanied by his parents,
Ruben recalls traveling to the village
where they were born in the state of
Durango. He tells us: "I loved being able to
spend as much time with my parents and
my sisters. In Mexico, everything was new,
everything was different and interesting".
In Salinas, he remembers that his passion
in his teens his was playing basketball
in Closter Park every day after class.
His parents, Ruben taught him that a
person's life makes more sense when
God’s given talents are used to serve
others. He shares, how he has carried out
this advice: "We all have talents in
different areas and that is because we are
made in order to contribute in different
ways to improve our world."
However, Ruben admits that
becoming a teacher and lawyer was not
easy. He says with great conviction:
"One of my biggest obstacles for many
reasons was that I made the mistake that
many young people make, I did not try in
my studies. I mean, I did not focus on my
studies and when I wanted to change,
it felt like it was too late for me." He
shares, with all honesty that he did not
improve his grades because he feared not
being a smart person. He says: "The
fear and insecurity radiating me. To some
extent I had already formed a negative
identity of myself and that image of myself
was a stopping anchor of a better future.
I made the decision to focus on my
studies until I had no choice." Not until he
manages to imagine himself as a person
who has the ability to attend college does
he accomplish his goal. He says:
"I transformed my identity and discovered
that the only limitations I had were
the ones I made me." How does he do
achieve this?
In high school, Ruben applied to
several universities and was rejected by
every university. He does not let this
setback determine his future and
continues his studies at a community
college in Santa Barbara. Ruben says
enthusiastically: "After just one year I
transferred to the University of California
at Santa Barbara where I graduated with a
degree in Sociology. During my college
career I was able to study a school year in
the city of Madrid in Spain and another
quarter in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico”.
During this same time, Ruben also worked
as a tutor for migrant students as part of
California Mini -Corps. This is where he
discovered his passion: "That experience
planted the seed in me, that one day I
would be a teacher" Ruben finishes his
education at the University of California,
Santa Barbara and decides to continue to
law school to be a lawyer. He says: "Once
again I was not accepted but I gave up
and applied the following year and was
accepted to law school at the University of
Santa Clara." After his first year in law
school, Ruben puts into practice what he
learns. He explains: "I
formed a legal center
called the Legal Center of
the East San José whose
goal was to provide free
services to low-income
people. Thank God that
center remains open today and has
provided legal assistance to hundreds of
individuals and families in need.”
Ruben completed his law studies, and
years later he decides to continue with his
passion of being a teacher. He shares:
"Today I have the privilege of being a
teacher of government and politics at the
Alisal High School. During my 13 years as
a teacher I have tried to educate,
motivate, and inspire my students to excel
academically and socially and tap their
lives to the fullest. Also, I have tried to
transfer my passion to serve our
community." The dedication to his
students and community goes beyond the
classroom as he also runs a leadership
academy, "Alisal Dream Academy".
He explains the purpose of the academy:
"The goal is to give young people the skills
and experiences they need to succeed in
their lives." The academy holds various
activities in the community to raise funds
to travel. In the past, the academy
witnessed the historic inauguration of
President Barack Obama in Washington
DC. Today, the goal of the academy is to
take 92 young students to New York City
for seven days in April. He explains:
"Every young man has been working hard
to raise the $1.700 they need to travel."
Once, in the city of New York, the sights
they will visit will be the following: "Statue
of Liberty, Memorial Museum 9/11,
Central Park, a Broadway Show, the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Times
Square, a baseball game between the
Yankees and the Boston Red Sox,
Columbia University and the City University
of New York. If you like to contribute to the
cause of these young people you can call
me on my cell at 831-229-7969”.
It is important that parents
support their children
unconditionally. If your child
makes a bad decision does
not mean you are a
bad person –Ruben Pizarro
Without a doubt his parents have
inspired Ruben throughout his life and
career. He says to us: "My parents have
inspired me much because they decided
to leave their life in Mexico to come to the
United States with the idea of improving
their lives and the lives of their children.
Although it was a very difficult experience
for them, they never gave up and created
a good life for my family in this country.
Day after day, I got to see their work ethic
and their spirit of excellence." Ruben’s
immediate family also inspire him, as he
shares with us: "My wife,
Lorena Silva, has been a
great inspiration to me
because she also came from
Mexico and started the fifth
grade here in the United
States without knowing a
word of English. She has been a great
support to me and I feel that everything I
have achieved in my life have been things
that she and I have planned and worked
together to make a reality. Finally, my
children, Mariela and Marco, inspire me
every day because they really work hard
every day to get the gifts that God has
placed in them. The two have a spirit and
an attitude of winners! "
Lastly, Ruben has very vital advice to
all parents: "It is important that parents
support their children unconditionally. If
your child makes a bad decision, then it
does not mean they are a bad person. We
may dislike what our child does but we
also must let them know that our love for
them does not change because of some
bad decisions. This is especially important
because we live in a world that is
constantly rejecting our youth and parents
have to be that much needed shelter to
our children because if we do not they
seek such acceptance with people
who can guide them into negative things”.
For his dedication to the students of
and never giving up despite the
challenges life has brought him, Ruben is
recognized. As he continues in the pursuit
of a better life with his family, and extends
this drive to our students to believe they
have the intellectual capacity to dream,
to be someone in life, because all they
m u s t d o i n l i f e i s t r y .
By his strength, his perseverance,
furthermore if we include his voluntary
work supporting youth who are the future
of our society, Rubén Pizarro is clearly an
example of motivation and hope for all,
Paloma Magazine thanks him, and
recognizes him always, as our Orgullo
Hispano
Interview by: Julio Enríquez
Photo by: Dena Photo & Video
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