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Character at its Best: Jim Hernandez
Hailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, is Youth and Motivational Speaker Jim Hernandez. With his ‘Create your LIFE Development Series’ doing well, Jim talks influences, goals, and upstart.
Jim Hernandez travels around the world mentoring young adults from various ethnic backgrounds and takes time out of his schedule to discuss his purpose.
Derrick Smith: How old are you and what inspired you to become a motivational speaker and mentor?
Jim Hernandez: I’m 28. What inspired me? Good question. I wanted to do something positive, something that would empower others. I wanted to do something that no one else around me was doing. Why not become a motivational speaker and a mentor, be myself, share wisdom and knowledge, be positive, and have fun while doing it…
DS: What quote(s) have influenced you the most and why?
JH: Les Brown – “If I want to be free, I got to be me.”
Bruce Lee – “Simplicity is the key to brilliance .”
Jay-Z – “Only thing that can stop me is me.”
These quotes and more have influenced me because I have experienced them all, to a certain extent, on my journey.
DS: What’s more important the message or the affect?
JH: The affect of the message. It shows that they [students] grasp the message and they understand what was said to them by applying it. That means more to me than anything else.
DS: With so much accomplished early what’s your biggest goal as a speaker?
JH: To influence as many young men and women across the nation, let’s think big
across the world. From what I have experienced and seen with my own eyes the youth wants someone to lead them in the right direction. I want to be the guy to do so.
DS: During your travels, who do you feel needed the most mentoring, boys or girls? Explain.
JH: Young men are easily steered in the wrong direction due to their influences in their schools and or their surroundings. Young men are sometimes afraid of what others have to say or think, therefore, conforming to what the status quo is doing. I have dedicated my life to showing these young men by example that it is okay to be positive, to walk down your own path, but most importantly okay to be yourself.
DS: When your work is done what would you want to be remembered for?
JH: I would like to be remembered as a person who went against the grain and implemented everything I experienced growing up into his dream of being a world-renowned speaker. I can’t be anyone else because I am already me.
Info: The Create your LIFE Development Series (CYL) empowers minority youth to realize their full potential and articulate a clear vision for their future. Youth are inspired to adopt positive mental attitudes and make decisions that create the life they desire. CYL accomplishes this by providing innovative workshops, lectures, and mentoring. CYL has designed a comprehensive concrete approach focused on developing skill sets in communication, decision making, and public speaking.
Bella Andrew
January 2012 at 4:38 AM
Hey Jim Sounds great but someone who is really great to check out is Youth Speaker Rob Roots his message is a real inspiration to those read and hear his story. His book Falling Isn’t Failing is a must have!!