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Tom Arviso Jr. Highlight
Go with your heart. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
About Tom
- Started working at the Navajo Times 27 years ago as a college intern studying journalism.
- His interest in journalism initially began in high school while working as a sportswriter for the school paper.
- When he got to college, he had a lot of doubts about whether journalism was something he actually wanted to pursue—his desire to effect change led him to social work.
- For a year, he worked to reintegrate people leaving prison and help them find jobs, but found that the work wasn’t fulfilling him in the way he thought it would.
- While looking for something different to do, he saw an advertisement for writers at a small Native American newspaper—he applied, got the job, and reinvigorated his interest in journalism.
- Admits that he experienced a lot of self-doubt making the switch from social work to journalism; he worried that he would never find something he was truly passionate about.
- Says that he has been turned down for a lot of jobs that he really wanted and that it was hard to overcome that rejection—has learned to believe in himself and focus on being his best self.
- Currently serves as the CEO of the Navajo Times Publishing Co., Inc.—says that he found his passion is in telling other people’s stories in an authentic way.
