Voices that Inspire

What inspires you from WFSU Public Media? Here's this week's voices that inspire. I'm Madeline Pumariega, Chancellor of the Florida College System, which I hold near and dear to my heart, because it's a champion for 800,000 students and 28 colleges, and it's where I started my college career. But I think the one that I hold closest to my heart is Mom. It's what we do as moms and as parents that create a generational cycle of positive change. I was born and raised in Miami, and my parents came from Cuba, left the regime of Fidel Castro. My mom went back to school and became a teacher, and my dad became a banker. And so I think I'm a hybrid of a business entrepreneur, loving education, but I had a passion for education and for what kind of impact it had on my life and on their life, and how I saw it transform children's lives as she taught. I think I'm inspired by my parents, and I think about what they went through at the age they went through and to come into this country, learn English, become citizens, and live the American dream. I'm inspired by the students who I've seen just be able to be so successful because of their own desire to be better. And I'm inspired by leaders that show courage that stand up for what's right. Each one of us has the ability to make a difference. Each one of us has the ability to change someone's life for the better. It's about our heart and giving of that time and generously. Madeline Pumariega, Chancellor of the Florida College System. Voices that inspire is sponsored by Leadership Tallahassee, a program of the Tallahassee Chamber, celebrating 35 years of cultivating community leadership.