Fernando J. Pérez
Silicon Valley De-Bug
San Jose, CA USA
"I don’t think there is a formula for how to be a successful student. For me, success was the privilege of being able to continue to learn."
Career Roadmap
Fernando J.'s work combines: Film, Non-Profit Organizations, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Do what you love, and what I love is to work with people and tell their stories.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Television Radio Film Theater (TRFT)
San Jose State University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Producers & Directors:
Bachelor's Degree: Art
Bachelor's Degree: Theatre/Theater
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I was born and raised in San Jose, California.
2.
I went to a performing arts high school, where I was introduced to art, theater, and digital media.
3.
Attended a local community college in Cupertino, California, for about five years—while I was there, I was able to explore my various interests.
4.
I found that my passions were really centered around ethnic studies, film/television, and helping other people embrace their culture and identity.
5.
Transferred to San Jose State University, where I earned my degree in television, radio, film, and theater (TRFT).
6.
While there, I had the opportunity to run a radio show and a public access television show that focused on telling diverse stories from the community of San Jose.
7.
After I was wrongly arrested during a traffic stop, I wrote about my experience for Silicon Valley De-Bug, a community advocacy organization that gave me a platform to fight my case.
8.
Inspired by their mission, I took my background in video production and radio to help Silicon Valley De-Bug elevate their stories—I am now a full-time video coordinator for the organization.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Get into a career that makes money!
How I responded:
Do what you love, and what I love is to work with people and tell their stories.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I wasn't always the best student in high school, but I always made sure to challenge myself to do better. I spent a lot of time in community college (more than average) where I allowed myself to explore my various interests.
I had an incident with some police officers when I was younger who wrongly arrested me during a traffic stop. I used my network and our platform to call attention to this injustice.