A Father, A Student, A Leader
Profiles
By Estefano Torres | Staff Writer
L
osing his job was the last thing my father, Jorge Torres, needed. He was entering the first stages of becoming a father. The year was 2001 and now, for the majority of his daily routine, he was met with that familiar scent of freshly baked pizza. One would normally be filled with excitement, however when delivering pizzas had become one of his primary ways of barely making a living, the aroma would devolve into a sickening stench of sticky cheese and dairy. Even if he took on two jobs in pizza delivery AND in UPS delivery, it was his wife and parents who he relied on for money and for paying bills. “ This was the biggest recession I ever faced in my life,” Jorge admits.
As he sat down with his wife, ready to discuss moving to Puerto Rico to work for his father-in-law, Jorge froze and observed every corner of his home. He and his family had worked hard to finally purchase this house. Together, they had brought in the green and brown couches, hardwood tables, and especially, assembled his newborn son’s royal blue crib. He did not want to simply give up. “ There was a drive I had within me to provide the best for my son.” He took a moment to himself, which stretched for days, weeks, and then months. His over-confidence and determination began to get the best of him, as usual. This time, for the better. After countless attempts of applying for higher paying jobs, he would be rejected over and over again. Though these would be hard blows, Jorge would have the greatest of support and affection by his side in the form of his wife and family. “I guess one thing I did to control stress was to pray,” he says. Every night, he would pray for bigger opportunities and chances to redeem himself to make his loved ones proud. Eventually, after many rejected applications, he
30
Horizons
would get his chance by working in a medical equipment industry. This job would be short-lived, however, as he would successfully earn a job at ASML - a Dutch semiconductor behemoth - as a temporary worker. Despite the instant loss of all his benefits (such as medical and vacation), Jorge remained confident and took this life-changing risk. After slowly beginning to make a proper living for his family, Jorge would apply to Housatonic for Spring 2004 to earn his degree in Computer Science. His interests would change as he continued his education. He would gain interest in engineering, earning him a higher position at ASML because of his newfound skill. As he would progress through Housatonic many years later, he would once again change his career interests, this time chasing his degree in Business. After many changes Jorge would go through in his professional and academic life, he would finally go home, greet his
“There was a drive I had within me to provide for my son” now four children and wife, and share the news of his new promotion as Team Leader at ASML, one of the biggest roles within the globally successful company. “Because I have changed my career three times, I am able to provide both for my children and go to school,”he added. Such stubbornness and high confidence would truly boost him to immensely impressive heights after all. My father, Jorge Torres, is still not satisfied with his success and wants more. Being surrounded with nothing but his bed, desk, and laptop, he continues
