Written by Heidee Rolón,
Journalism student (Universidad
Del Sagrado Corazón (USC)).
Translated by Hiram A. Santiago
for News and Analysis.
Journalism
with a superation example
- Haven’t allowed life’s missteps to take
away his dreams.
“Sex,
Drugs and Rock n’ Roll.” Said Hiram A. Santiago followed by, “That is the
phrase that makes you crash against the wall. It reaches a point in which you
finally crumble down. And when most people have taken you as a lost case, you take
your time, pick yourself up, you forgive yourself and finally you reinvent yourself.”
Such
words were expressed by Hiram Augusto Santiago Magrís, who at 40 years old, is
an example of triumph againts life's adversities for anyone who desires to turn around their lives in a
positive way.
His
father’s suicide, when Hiram was only 11 years old, and his mother’s passing
away from Alzheimer Disease complications two years ago, have represented
difficult stages in his life, nevertheless, Hiram marches on forward for his
future.
“I’m a focus of inspiration for many people. I’ve
motivated many of my friends to go back (to college), which makes me very
happy and satisfies me a lot”, says Hiram, who with his distinctive black denim
jacket and humble personality describes how much he’s changed, since his decision
to make his life take a positive spin.
As
a Bachelor’s Degree student in Journalism at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (USC),
he deals day to day with the responsibilities of working and studying, to
provide for his family, since only five months ago Hiram became the father of a
baby boy.
On his new roll as a father says, “It is very sacrificed,
but it also is a lot of joy. At the end of it all, it takes away the best from
you, but that smile when he looks at me and how he stares, it is a priceless
feeling.” Hiram tells with a smile on his face, looking like he is reflecting
how much his son represents in his life.
On
the other side, Hiram describes as “a good experience” being a more adult student
than most of his classmates. He assures that the treatment from the university’s
professors, for being an older student than the rest of the group, do not make
his classes any harder and that has not been a handicap for him to continue
studying.
Santiago
started his studies in Journalism in 1999 through 2001, but had to withdraw
from college, due to a series of personal situations. It wasn’t until 10 years
later, in 2011, that he retook his studies. Now he has three semesters to go
until graduation.
With
so many twists and turns in his life, Hiram defines this moment as “the
culminating point. That point in the written novel, where everything is
happening at the same time, but nothing has concluded yet.” This way, Hiram
describes that the end of the novel will be when he finally graduates from
Journalism.
- Music in his life
“Who
doesn’t know me as a journalist, do know
me as a musician and singer”, said Hiram.
Besides
studying Journalism, Hiram has been involved in different musical projects,
either by himself playing his acoustic guitar or with guitarist and composer
for Puya and Ankla, Ramón Ortíz, music is a very important part of his life.
On
the other hand, he understands that “the music world takes a lot of time. Studying, practicing, rehearsing… It takes a
lot of compromise, and not everybody has it. Usually, you end up singing by
yourself.”
At
the present, Hiram continues to collaborate with different local musicians as a
singer and musician, all without taking any priority out of neither his studies
and family.
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