46 Years Later, I Walked Back Into the Halls That Made Me
In 1979, I walked across the stage at Andrean High School as Valedictorian. This year, I walked back in—not as a student, but as a mentor.
Forty-six years apart, yet the halls felt the same. The energy. The memories. The quiet echo of becoming.
As a Cuban immigrant, I came to this country with almost nothing. But Andrean gave me more than an education—it gave me vision. I was taught to aim higher than my beginnings, to lead with integrity, and to believe in a future I couldn’t yet see.
When I returned to speak at Senior Breakfast this year, I stood before students who reminded me of my younger self: hungry, hopeful, and ready for the world. And I offered them something I wish I had when I was their age—perspective earned the hard way.
These are seven lessons I’ve learned on the long road from high school valedictorian to surgeon, entrepreneur, father, and teacher.
1. Success Is Never Instant
It’s easy to believe the myth of overnight success. What we don’t see are the years behind the moment—the quiet decisions, the missed holidays, the doubts pushed aside, and the discipline when no one’s watching.
Success isn’t flashy. It’s slow, patient, and earned. Think crockpot, not microwave.
2. Obsession Outperforms Talent
I wasn’t the most gifted. I didn’t have the best connections. But I had obsession—the good kind. The kind that keeps you up at night and gets you up in the morning.
Obsession is passion with structure. When you love something enough to master it, the results will come. Be relentless in your pursuit of better.
3. Failure Is the Tuition You Pay for Success
I’ve failed—in business, in life, and in public. Those failures hurt. But they taught me things about success never could.
You can’t grow without falling. You can’t lead without stumbling. Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of it.
4. The Cuban Triad: My Family’s Blueprint
When we arrived in the U.S., we had no money, no language, and no safety net. But we had a code—passed down from my parents:
- Self-discipline: Do what needs to be done, regardless of how you feel.
- Resilience: Get up every time you fall.
- Delayed gratification: Wait. Work. Believe.
That triad built my life. It can build yours too.
5. Do the Hard Things—On Purpose
Discomfort is where transformation lives. Lean into it. Volunteer for what scares you. Speak up even when your voice shakes.
Growth doesn’t come from easy wins—it comes from doing hard things when no one’s looking.
6. Character Over Credentials
Your GPA might get you in the door, but character is what keeps you in the room. Show up. Own your mistakes. Tell the truth. Keep your promises.
Degrees don’t impress me—integrity does.
7. Be a Thermostat, Not a Thermometer
Don’t just reflect the energy in the room—set it. Be the one who lifts others. Who shows up with courage. Who chooses positivity, even when it’s not popular.
Leadership starts when you stop waiting for permission to care.
The Final Truth: The Power of the Pause
In our rush to become someone, we forget that strength is built in the stillness. Every dream worth having requires patience. Every legacy worth building takes time.
When I look back, it wasn’t the flashy moments that defined me—it was the quiet choices. The nights I chose persistence. The days I chose character. The seasons I chose to wait.
To the graduating class of 2025:
Be bold enough to fail.
Patient enough to wait.
Brave enough to lead.
And to all of us still walking our own path—what lesson would you pass on to your younger self?