With high energy and a positive outlook on life, Andres Lara, a speaker known popularly as “The Cuban Guy”, encouraged Bradley students to stick to their dreams during his campus visit Oct. 3.
During an Association for Latino American Students (A.L.A.S.) sponsored event, Lara, formerly a homeless Cuban immigrant, shared his inspiring story while a diverse audience listened intently in the Marty Theater.
“If I were to summarize my story in one sentence, it’d be ‘the pain of moving forward is temporary; the pain of quitting is permanent,” Lara said, referring to his journey to America at the age of 16.
After graduating from Montclair State University and publishing several self-help books at a young age, Lara is now a successful speaker who has motivated many across the country with his energetic delivery and penchant for audience participation.
Junior nursing major and A.L.A.S. president, Guadalupe Flores, said that her organization hoped Lara’s message would inspire those who heard it to continue to work towards success, especially Bradley’s Latino community of students.
“Latinos tend to not be motivated in furthering their education,” Flores said. “Many students who graduate high school have no way of getting to college because they lack the resources to get there, [and] one of the most important resources is motivation.”
As the night progressed and audience excitement peaked, Lara left students with one last thought to keep in mind as they left.
“When do you think you’ll become the successful person you want to be? Ten years, 15 years? No, it’ll be right now,” Lara said.
