Frank Cruz
Telemundo
Laguna Niguel, CA USA
"You always have to keep your mind open and make sure that you are willing to listen and to try. Always be in the process of learning. Keep opening those doors."
Career Roadmap
Frank's work combines: Education, Journalism, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Learn everything you can about the career you're entering. Get a mentor who can give you sound advice. You always have to keep your mind open and make sure that you are willing to listen and try. Always be in the process of learning.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
History, General
East Los Angeles College
Bachelor's Degree
History, General
University of Southern California
Certification
Secondary Education and Teaching
Graduate Degree
Latin American History
University of Southern California
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists:
Associate's Degree: History, General
Bachelor's Degree: History, General
Graduate Degree: Business/Commerce, General
Doctorate: Business/Commerce, General
Doctorate: Law
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona—my father died of meningitis before I was born, so my mother raised my brother and I as a single parent.
2.
After graduating from high school, I decided to join the United States Air Force and served for four years in Asia.
3.
After leaving the military, I moved to Los Angeles, California and began attending East Los Angeles College with the intention of becoming a dentist, but eventually switched my major to history.
4.
Transferred to the University of Southern California (USC), where I earned my bachelor’s degree in history and received my teaching credentials.
5.
I followed my passion for giving back to Mexican-American communities and got a job teaching at Lincoln High School in East Los Angeles, where the student body was predominantly Mexican-American.
6.
Inspired to teach my students more about Mexican immigration to the U.S., I returned to USC to earn my master’s degree in Latin American history and helped write a book on the topic.
7.
I became an associate professor of history at California State University, Long Beach and Sonoma State University.
8.
Got an opportunity to work for ABC on a Chicano news series, which led to a new career as a news reporter—I am also a founder of Telemundo, the nation’s second Spanish-language television network.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Perhaps I'm not good enough.
How I responded:
Go through life by building your own blocks of knowledge, inner strength, and a can-do attitude that you can use to accomplish any task before you.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
After leaving the military, I began attending a community college in Los Angeles with the intention of becoming a dentist, but after losing interest in the required chemistry classes, I was encouraged to switch my major to history.
My parents immigrated to the U.S. in the 1930s after fleeing the violence of the Mexican revolution. I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ.
I started my career working as a teacher and historian. I got the opportunity to begin working in television news, but doubted whether I would be capable of making the transition. I decided to take the risk. I could always go back to teaching.