10 Questions for 1 Alumnus | Alumni Magazine Summer 2025

 

I started in 7th grade -- a year after many of my classmates. Even if the “all-boys” thing took some getting used to, the education changed my life. I think that’s because it taught me a certain standard that’s helped me throughout my adult life. Yes, we messed around as teenage boys will do. But looking back on the experience, there was a level of expected excellence that wasn’t typical at most schools.

 

 

A decent one, I guess. Quiet. Certainly not the kind of kid you’d expect to end up doing live TV in front of millions of people for a living. It wasn’t until I started doing speech and drama outside of class that I hit my stride and gained more confidence.

 

 

There were many. Most are probably not for public consumption and shouldn’t be published in this magazine! However, I’ll always remember Mr. Garland’s geometry class for its irreverent inside jokes. There was a unique analysis of “The Wizard of Oz.” And who could forget his real-world examples of otherwise dry math concepts? (We quickly learned that Ft. Pierce was the midpoint between Miami and Orlando on a road trip – and where everyone stopped to use the restroom.) Then there was TOAH SOH KOAH, an unlikely mnemonic device to remember the trigonometric ratios of right triangles. I’ve never once used this information. But decades later, I still recall Mr. Garland’s impeccable comedic timing. A master class.

 

 

Actually, what I learned at Belen was that the most influential lessons often happen outside the classroom. I really flourished when I joined the forensics (speech and debate) team and quickly began traveling to tournaments almost every weekend, seeing parts of the country I’d never known. It expanded my horizons and made me leave my comfort zone.

 

 

Leo Williams, the speech and drama teacher, pushed me to express myself in ways I didn’t think possible. Patrick Collins – with his annual trip to Close Up in Washington, D.C. and his unbridled enthusiasm about government -- also made an impression. So did many other teachers. The full list wouldn’t fit in this article.

 

 

The Jesuits always stress education – and that helped me develop an intense curiosity. That desire to keep learning has fueled my career. Also, my faith has helped me get through difficult times. So have several of my closest friends, whom I met at Belen. The school’s drive to succeed is apparently contagious: I’ve worked at NBC with several prominent Belen grads, including Cesar Conde, the chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group; Tom Llamas, the new NBC Nightly News anchor; and Carlos Curbelo, the political analyst and former Congressman. 

 

 

 

One of my mentors, José Díaz-Balart, is among the kindest guys in the industry. Lester Holt, despite his voice-of-God gravitas, is incredibly down-to-earth and grabbed lunch with me when I first ran into him in an elevator. Oh, and Tom Brokaw may be an iconic news anchor, but even after retiring, he still took time to send complimentary emails if he enjoyed one of your stories. (Also, in his unmistakable baritone, Brokaw once offered me his couch when he was cleaning out his office. True story.)

 

 

My passport has been stamped much more often! I’ve been exposed to different cultures across the world. (For me, getting on a plane can feel like getting in an Uber.) I also empathize with human suffering much more since I often meet people on the worst days of their lives when covering a news story. I try to always remember that – and keep things in perspective.

 

 

One of the most touching moments I’ve had professionally in the last few years was when a young college student approached me at a journalism conference and said she’d been watching me for years on the news. Hearing a Latino with my last name on national TV helped inspire her to go into broadcasting. It reminded me of our important role as role models—especially since many of our parents came to this country as refugees. I never take any success for granted.

 

 

 Learn how to write. Be curious. If you’re interested in television news, watch as much of it as possible. Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone. Prioritize your health. It’s a marathon, not a sprint – although you’ll need to do plenty of sprinting at times so keep moving!