You might find it hard to believe that nationally-known journalist and broadcaster Maria Hinojosa might, in some ways, be unaccustomed to public speaking.
But that was the problem Hinojosa says she found herself in prior to Sunday’s commencement at Knox College, because the college wanted a copy of the speech, prior to her giving it.
Hinojosa says she wouldn’t have minded speaking off the cuff, until about a week ago Saturday.
“What I did was, I just woke up and I did it — I dictated this speech,” said Hinojosa, during some moments where she and others did go “off script.” “I started to talk to you, because I knew that that could be the only way I could get through this, and to tell you stories.”
Hinojosa says that leads to some of her advice to the Class of 2024 – do things that scare you.
A moment that could have scared Hinojosa came during her childhood. As her mother and four children including her were travelling to this country from Mexico, they had an encounter at the southern border in Texas. The family was looking to travel to Illinois, where Hinojosa’s father was at the University of Chicago and helped to invent the cochlear implant. Of the four Hinojosa children, Maria says she almost didn’t make it, because a border patrol agent wanted to detain her.
That is, until Maria’s mother spoke up.
“She looked up at that super tall immigration agent, and said, ‘Sir! My name is Berta Hinojosa. And, my husband is Dr. Raul Hinojosa,'” said Hinojosa. “‘He was invited by the University of Chicago to come to this country with our green cards, sir. You can call the University of Chicago and tell them who I am, and I am meeting my husband. I’m coming in to this country, sir, with my four children!”
Hinojosa says the border agent then let the whole family right through. She says the lesson is to always use your voice, and be curious, even if it is to question authority.
Hinojosa says it’s also okay if you spend time doing something like waiting tables after graduation because it will help your work ethic.
The NPR and PBS program host also says it’s okay to have an ego, because it got a student closer to graduation, but also to have humility.
Hinojosa was also one of three people to receive honorary degrees during the ceremony — the most well-known of which was longtime coach and athletic director Harley Knosher.
