Perfectly You

1. Embrace Your Uniqueness: Your Differences Are Your Strengths

"When you're different, you have to work at belonging."

Celebrate your uniqueness. Mariana Atencio's journey from Venezuela to the United States taught her that what makes us different can be our greatest asset. Throughout her career, she faced numerous challenges due to her background, accent, and appearance. However, she learned to embrace these differences and use them to her advantage.

Turn perceived flaws into strengths:

• Cultural background: Use your unique perspective to bring fresh insights
• Accent: Leverage it to stand out and connect with diverse audiences
• Appearance: Embrace your look to challenge stereotypes and represent underrepresented groups

By owning what makes you unique, you can create opportunities and connections that wouldn't be possible otherwise. Mariana's success as a journalist and public figure is largely due to her ability to bridge cultures and bring diverse perspectives to her storytelling.

2. The Power of Saying "Yes" to Opportunities

"Say yes to everything that comes your way. Later in life, you'll learn the power of no, but for now, say yes to every opportunity."

Embrace the "yes" attitude. Mariana's mentor, María Elena Salinas, gave her this advice early in her career, and it proved to be transformative. By saying yes to various opportunities, even those that seemed daunting or outside her comfort zone, Mariana was able to gain valuable experience and open doors she never imagined.

Benefits of saying "yes":

• Expands your skill set
• Creates unexpected connections
• Builds confidence
• Leads to serendipitous opportunities

This approach doesn't mean saying yes to everything forever, but it's particularly valuable early in your career or when entering a new field. It allows you to explore different paths, learn from diverse experiences, and discover your true passions and strengths.

3. Authenticity is Key in Personal and Professional Life

"We are all brilliantly flawed. You don't have to be perfect—just perfectly you."

Be true to yourself. Throughout her career, Mariana learned the importance of being authentic, both in her personal relationships and professional life. She discovered that trying to fit into a mold or pretending to be someone she wasn't only led to unhappiness and missed opportunities.

Benefits of authenticity:

• Builds genuine connections with others
• Enhances credibility and trust
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Attracts opportunities that align with your true self

In journalism and media, authenticity is particularly crucial. Mariana found that her ability to be real and vulnerable on camera helped her connect with her audience and tell more impactful stories. This principle applies to all aspects of life – being true to yourself allows you to form deeper relationships and find more fulfilling opportunities.

4. Resilience: Overcoming Adversity and Learning from Setbacks

"Resilience. The human capacity to adapt and overcome adversity. And doing it gracefully."

Develop resilience. Mariana's life has been marked by numerous challenges, from political upheaval in her home country to personal and professional setbacks in the United States. Through these experiences, she learned the importance of resilience – the ability to bounce back from adversity and grow stronger.

Key aspects of resilience:

• Adaptability: Being flexible in the face of change
• Perseverance: Continuing to push forward despite obstacles
• Learning from failures: Viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth
• Maintaining perspective: Focusing on the bigger picture

Mariana's resilience was tested when she lost her job at El Diario, faced the possibility of becoming undocumented, and dealt with her sister's severe accident. In each case, she found ways to adapt, learn, and move forward. This resilience not only helped her overcome these challenges but also made her a more empathetic and effective journalist.

5. The Importance of Family and Cultural Roots

"We are one, like a hand with its five fingers. Each one is equally important. We can spread them open or put them close together. Handshake to greet friends or raised fist against injustice. That's us."

Cherish your roots. Mariana's story is deeply intertwined with her family and Venezuelan heritage. Throughout her journey, she found strength and guidance in her cultural background and family values. Even as she adapted to life in the United States, she never forgot where she came from.

Ways to honor your roots:

• Maintain connections with family and homeland
• Share your culture with others
• Incorporate cultural traditions into your daily life
• Use your background as a source of strength and inspiration

Mariana's ability to navigate between cultures and languages became one of her greatest strengths as a journalist. Her deep connection to her roots allowed her to tell stories that bridged divides and brought understanding to complex issues.

6. Bridging Divides: Empathy and Understanding Across Cultures

"I was going to use any platform available to lend my voice to as many of the eleven million undocumented people in America—and the millions more who were here legally, fighting to make it—as best I could."

Be a cultural bridge. Mariana's experiences as an immigrant and bilingual journalist positioned her to be a bridge between different cultures and communities. She recognized the power of this role and used it to bring understanding and empathy to complex issues.

Ways to bridge divides:

• Learn multiple languages
• Seek out diverse perspectives
• Challenge stereotypes and misconceptions
• Use storytelling to humanize complex issues

By sharing stories of immigrants, disaster survivors, and people from diverse backgrounds, Mariana helped her audience connect with experiences different from their own. This ability to bridge divides is increasingly important in our interconnected world.

7. The Impact of Storytelling in Journalism and Social Media

"If we remain emotionless, so will the audience. Long gone is the era of the cold reporter who couldn't express feelings. Objectivity and compassion can go hand in hand."

Harness the power of storytelling. Mariana learned that effective journalism goes beyond just reporting facts – it's about telling stories that make people care. This principle applies not only to traditional media but also to social media and personal communication.

Elements of impactful storytelling:

• Emotional connection: Share personal experiences and feelings
• Authenticity: Be genuine and vulnerable
• Diverse perspectives: Include voices often left out of mainstream narratives
• Visual elements: Use images and video to enhance the story

Mariana's approach to storytelling, combining objectivity with compassion, allowed her to cover difficult topics like natural disasters, immigration, and political unrest in a way that resonated with her audience. She also leveraged social media to extend her reach and connect directly with viewers.

8. Navigating Loss and Finding Purpose in Helping Others

"Loss changes us and our stories, and yet connects us."

Find meaning in difficult experiences. Mariana's personal losses, including the death of her father and the challenges faced by her sister, taught her valuable lessons about grief, resilience, and the power of human connection. She found that sharing these experiences could help others going through similar situations.

Ways to navigate loss and find purpose:

• Allow yourself to grieve
• Seek support from loved ones and professionals
• Share your story to help others
• Channel your experiences into meaningful work

After losing her father, Mariana used her platform to shed light on the healthcare crisis in Venezuela. She also found that opening up about her loss helped her connect with others in a deeper way. These experiences reinforced her commitment to using journalism as a tool for positive change.

9. The Challenges and Rewards of Being an Immigrant in America

"People don't leave everything they love unless their lives or families' lives depend on it."

Embrace the immigrant experience. Mariana's journey as an immigrant in the United States was filled with challenges, from navigating the complex immigration system to facing cultural misunderstandings. However, she also found that her immigrant perspective gave her unique strengths and insights.

Challenges and rewards of the immigrant experience:

• Challenges:
  • Language barriers
  • Cultural adjustment
  • Legal complexities
  • Discrimination
• Rewards:
  • Diverse perspective
  • Resilience and adaptability
  • Ability to bridge cultures
  • Appreciation for opportunities

Mariana used her experiences as an immigrant to inform her reporting on immigration issues and to connect with other immigrants and children of immigrants. She found that by sharing her story, she could help others understand the immigrant experience and challenge stereotypes.

Last updated: October 20, 2024