Community Leaders: Myriam Irizarry
Introduction
On an overwhelmingly hot day in June, my mom returned from a long day of work with a small black and red book. Upon handing it to me, I was informed that it was a signed copy of “The Power of Perseverance” by Myriam Irizarry from my Candlelighters of Brevard mentor of five years, Natasha Duran. Mrs. Irizarry is Mrs. Duran’s awesome mom, as well as the first and only Hispanic judge in Pasco County, Florida. This is Judge Irizarry’s story of how she succeeded in America after immigrating from Puerto Rico!
Her Story
As told in the autobiography in a chapter of the same name, Judge Irizarry was born in Puerto Rico with five siblings and three half-siblings. Although she and her five siblings grew up with only a single mother, their love for her and each other was eternal. In 1950s Puerto Rico, as in many cultures of the same period, the social concept of “machismo” (relating to extreme masculinity in traditional male gender roles) made it familiar for men to have multiple families, as I learned in my Spanish classes.
With this struggle and other poor living conditions, the family eventually made enough money to start a new life in New York, tearfully saying goodbye to the other three siblings and their father. This was the part when little Judge Irizarry learned the power of perseverance! She and the rest of her family shared work in the slums of the Bronx until they had enough to go to school. As a child, she was lively, picked up English quick, and even spoke for her family (who wasn’t quite accustomed), leading them to joke that she was their “little lawyer.”
The dream followed her to New Brunswick, New Jersey. For the first time, she experienced living in an area with a primarily white population. Race riots sprung up at her high school constantly, incentivizing Irizarry and her siblings to start a call-for-action for more minority teachers and guidance counselors. In her pursuits to strengthen minority acceptance and outreach in her community, she discovered the “Upward Bound” program that allowed her and her siblings to attend college courses in high school, causing her to become the first in her family to attend college. Her dream was finally coming true!
Perseverance
According to Irizarry, her best years were her college years, where she attended many similar programs, got into law school, and dominated the New Jersey bar exam. She proclaims that “education is the great equalizer,” providing her with the “keys” to success alongside the power of God and her loving family. As a judge today, she recommends that the reader find a mentor to be their lifeline and supporter, give back to their local community through confident humility, and believe in the grace and glory of God.
Conclusion
I am honored to have met Judge Irizarry and spoken to her about this subject a year ago today! Motivated by my Spanish teacher of 4 years, Sra. Perotti, I was responsible for finding one Hispanic/Latin leader in our community to interview only in Spanish. Imagine my surprise when a free, signed copy of her autobiography appeared on my desk! In the end, I find it so endearing that she remembered our conversation and went out of her way to give me a copy so I could learn more about her inspiring story. I cannot wait to see how she continues influencing those around her, whether in the workplace, in her home, or through her excellent new book!
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