Today we’d like to introduce you to Mayra Moreno.
Hi Mayra, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico. Migrated to Houston when I was about 4 years old. I grew up in the east end area/second ward. I come from a family of migrants. My dad and grandfather settled here in Houston first before my mother, grandmother, and myself came to settle here too. My parents were working class, always holding 2 or 3 jobs at a time to make ends meet. As the eldest in my immediate family, I was the second mother to my two sisters and brother. My parents always said, “We came to America to give you a better life,” so that was the plan, a better life, and a better future. With that instilled in me, I had no other option but to succeed! For some reason, the news always caught my attention. To see an anchor so poised, calm, and collected while delivering the news was astonishing to me. I will say I never “allowed” myself to have dreams of being a journalist or anchor on tv when I was young because I feared I was not good enough, so I never really told anyone out loud. It wasn’t until I got to the University of Houston about to pursue architecture that it finally dawned on me, WHY NOT? UH had a great journalism program, and I said I was done not believing in myself and pushing the naysayers away. So, I went in full force and didn’t look back.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If I could write a book on obstacles and challenges…I would have several volumes. The biggest challenge as an immigrant kid was identity. It was so hard to fit in because I was not “American” enough but then I was not “Mexican” enough anymore because I was “American” now. When I finally started to learn English in school, it was rough. I often mispronounced words or didn’t say something in the right context. My peers would make fun of me. However, I pushed through.
In high school, the challenge there was figuring out how I would make it to college. I knew my parents did not have the money, and I had to figure out a way how because again, failing was not an option for me. It was a nerve-wracking time, my senior year, but I was blessed to have the right people in my life. The assistant principal at Austin High School at the time was such a blessing to me. She helped me with so much. Thankfully, graduating in the top 10% and getting access to FAFSA and scholarships, I was able to make college a reality.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Something I learned early on from a mentor was that if you don’t tell people what you want, they will never know, and they will not know how to help you. Throughout my life, I have always made sure I let the right people know what I want and what my goals are. That alone has helped me get to where I am now. The people who are willing to help you will, especially if they know you are willing to put in the work. I make sure to tell this to all the young students and interns I meet. I tell them if you don’t dream out loud people won’t know how to help you.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I work in an industry where people will quickly criticize you if they don’t like the way you look, sound or say something. Needless to say, with social media, news personalities are more accessible than ever. With the click of a button, we can be bullied in an instant. I soon learned that what people have to say carries should carry no weight at all. Yes, it’s hard to ignore it sometimes, but I remind myself that as long as I am content with myself and who I am, what others say doesn’t matter at all!
Contact Info:
- Website: tvmayramoreno.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tvmayramoreno/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABC13MayraMoreno
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MayraABC13
