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Geovanny Mayorga 0:04
Welcome to Campus Connections, a podcast dedicated to connecting with one another. You can find us on Spotify and YouTube and you may contact us by writing in the comments section or writing to us at podcast@mccollege.edu. We would love to hear your positive feedback and your thoughts on any future topics you would like to hear. I am your host, Geovanny Mayorga, and we are recording from our 203 North LaSalle campus in downtown Chicago. I've had the opportunity to be on live television a couple of times and unrecorded programs other times.
Geovanny Mayorga 0:36
First time I was on live television, I was at the NBC Telemundo Studios here in downtown Chicago to do a segment on at home fitness. At the time, I was fitness director for a YMCA in the south side of Chicago on 26th and Western. And when I first went on live, I was like a deer in the headlights. My eyes were wide as saucers, and I must have looked ridiculous that the producers of the new segment just played random physical activity video over my my live feed although they can obviously still hear my voice.
Geovanny Mayorga 1:16
So and during the demonstration that I was doing of the activity that I was showing, I had strapped the rubber tubing to my ankle because I think you can either strap to your ankle or step on it. So I had strapped it to my ankle and then when I pulled it, you know it it it snapped off. So it was not only funny but also embarrassing at the same time. So today I'll be speaking with one of my colleagues who has experienced being a television producer, and we'll talk a little bit about that. Her name is Shaudy Martinez.
Geovanny Mayorga 2:07
All right so welcome Shaudy to the podcast. Really excited that you're here today. How are you feeling?
Shaudy Martinez 2:13
Thank you, Geo. I'm so excited. My first podcast ever.
Geovanny Mayorga 2:20
Wonderful looking forward to it. It's great that you're here. You have such an interesting story, not only personally but also professionally that I'm really intrigued by. So why don't we start by letting people know you're obviously one of our staff members here. And what you started doing and what are you doing now?
Shaudy Martinez 2:40
Yes, sure. Well, I came to MCC as a student in 2018, was trying to finalize my ESL program. And then MCC started their business program. It was the first time they offered that and I said okay, I'm going to take the chance and I'm going to do it. So I did my Associate in business. Then I continue. And I did my Associate in marketing. I was lucky enough and I started working here too. In the externship department, like two years ago. Yeah, a little bit more. But now, fortunately, the International Student Services Coordinator, which is I don't know, like it was meant to be because I was an international student. And now I'm not an international student anymore. But like, I had the experience to now help students. So it's like a full circle.
Geovanny Mayorga 3:55
That's, that's great. And it's wonderful. On our first episode, I interviewed Jessica Karim, who also has an interesting story. Because she obviously came from Germany. You're coming from Venezuela. Correct? How did you make that decision to say, I want to learn English. I want to travel to a different country. And how you ended up here at MCC?
Shaudy Martinez 4:19
Yeah. Well, I was studying English back home. But it is not the same when you learn a new language in a foreign country where you cannot practice how to speak properly. So I decided to come because I wanted new opportunities in my job. I wanted to grow and so it's time I'm gonna do that. Well, I cannot live also in my country, we live in a very difficult political crisis. And then okay, just to look for another opportunities. I say okay is now never. So I decided to came to, to come to United States.
Shaudy Martinez 5:06
And I was looking for courses, English courses for ESL. And one of the the companies that brought my attention it was EF, and because they offer a course for plus 25 years old. So I say like, I don't want to be with teenagers like, because I don't know English enough, like, I don't want to be ashamed to be honest, in front of a teenager. So I tried to find a course that offer English for adults. So the only opportunity that they have it was here in Chicago. And I didn't know anything about the city. So I said, well, but I'm going to take the chance.
Shaudy Martinez 5:52
So that's why I came just to to learn English properly or to complete my my initial studies in English. But then, as I told you, well, I started in here in EF, and then I moved to another school. But then I came to to MCC. And when MCC opened that business program, I say, Okay, I had a background in marketing and communications. I studied that career in, in back in Venezuela. So, yeah, I was all related to your journalism, marketing, communications, cetera, et cetera. And I say, okay, business is maybe a complement that I need. And then I did the marketing once. And, yeah, that's why I came to Chicago, specifically.
Geovanny Mayorga 6:41
Now, I spoke in the introduction I spoke about I've been lucky and fortunate to to have been on live television a couple times. One of the times with with was at Telemundo, or NBC Studios, Telemundo, Chicago. And it was the first time I had been on television. And I, after that had been on television. Other times, you actually worked as a producer in television. Tell me a little bit about or tell the listeners a little bit about that experience? Yeah. What what does a producer do?
Shaudy Martinez 7:20
This is like my passion. I mean, I think I'm born being a producer, because being a producer is like to solve problems. And yes, I'm a problem solving person. Um, I started my professional career being an assistant producer. In in the cinema industry, back in Venezuela. That was amazing. I mean, the teamwork that you seen in a production like that is is amazing is, is my passion. So then I moved to TV. And I was a producer for it was a sport channel. So I was a producer of many sport programs, like the first one, it was like, exercise in the morning, like a magazine.
Shaudy Martinez 8:25
But then I moved to baseball. That was amazing. I was a producer for life. I mean, yeah, I wasn't in the stadium all the time, like 64 games in a season. So that was amazing. And then I did like motocross and so many things. But when you're a producer, you can produce whatever you want. It's, you have to be very organized, you have to be a problem solver, of course. But also you have to see everything like in 360. Because and also you have to have like, your radio of action, you're going to limit your action to something because you have to solve issues you have to make that things happen at the time that they have to happen. But also you are like the link with all departments are all the people involved in in a team. So this is what I am. This is what they find. I mean, I'm a producer in my veins. Yes. In my heart. And in my mind, I always have that mentality.
Geovanny Mayorga 9:47
Yeah. Is that something that you still do anywhere in a part time or do you do anything that can keep you tied to?
Shaudy Martinez 9:57
Well, every time I plan an event, for example, For students, this is I'm producing the event, right? Because you have to plan everything. And you have to work with different departments with different people. So I see everything as a producer of my life, because it's for everything, it seems you plan about it to, I don't know, buy an apartment, buy a car, whatever, you have to have done mentality that you're a planner, and you are a doer, too. I mean,
Geovanny Mayorga 10:33
That's what I find so interesting, that you had this wonderful life, or seemingly wonderful life as a producer. And then you you decide, hey, I want to go studying in the United States. It, did you have family here? How was that story in terms of coming to Chicago? Knowing or not knowing people? And how you found yourself? In Chicago once you got here?
Shaudy Martinez 11:00
Yeah. Well, after I was a producer, I changed my career to a corporate area. And I was more a consultant and I work in PR. So I was planning a lot of events. And then there was when I thought, okay, if I want to go further, and to be I don't know, a manager or whatever, I have to brought something else. So maybe the language is gonna open this space for me. So that's why I decided to come. But I was planning to come just for a while. And yeah, just to complete my ESL program, and then go back to my my country.
Shaudy Martinez 11:44
But as I told you at the beginning, in Venezuela, we suffer very dramatic political crisis, economical crisis. So once I was here, I said, if I'm going back, when I'm going to do various, I mean, I was aspiring to a better job, but there are no jobs anymore. I mean, we are fighting there for for food for basic resources. So I think this is not the time to, to go back yet. So that's why I decided to stay here and study something else to add, I mean, I was not going to stay in the same like level, I just want to grow while I was here.
Shaudy Martinez 12:33
That's why I studied these two associates, that I thought that would bring me more opportunities here or somewhere else. So yeah, I came at the beginning, alone. And I didn't know anybody here in Chicago. But I made a lot of good friends. Because that's the good thing that I mean, this is an unique opportunity that an ESL program brings you. You can connect with people that you never imagined you, you will connect from all over the world.
Shaudy Martinez 13:09
So I, in fact, right now, I keep in touch with friends that I met in that ESL program. And they are from Turkmenistan. They are via Colombia. That is our neighbors down in South America, but I didn't know anybody from there. And yeah, so although I was alone at the beginning, I didn't feel alone anymore, because they became my family here. But also I had the I was far too fortunate. Oh, yes. I was lucky enough that then my sister came, my mom came so now we are reunited here.
Geovanny Mayorga 13:52
Oh, so now they are here. That's wonderful. Yes, yes.
Shaudy Martinez 13:56
This is it was not easy. But finally they are here. And I'm super happy. Because the first two three years were were really hard. When you feel like when you're an international student and you are really alone in another country. If you struggle well with the culture, new culture, new costumes, the language, it is hard. But although we feel alone at the beginning, I mean, there there are plenty of people that helps you in your in your path that you will never feel alone. Again, because there's I call them angels, little angels that help you everywhere. When you are more needed. There. They are there. So it is a matter to adapt yourself to the New City to a new country where you're living. And everything is going to be okay. I guess this is like the main message like Don't be afraid.
Geovanny Mayorga 15:00
Is there a very large community of Venezuelans, aside from the recent people that have arrived. Yes. Is there a large community of Venezuelans?
Shaudy Martinez 15:10
Well, when I arrived, we were like, 300, something like that. And but now we are 1000s. Oh, no. Yes. It's a huge community. Yeah. Also, I met Venezuelans here. During my ESL program, mostly, but from different states. Sure that I never I mean, when I was living in in Venezuela, I am from Caracas from the Capitol, and I was there. I mean, no reason to go to another state, just for work. I travel a lot for work, but I was there, work and gate came back. But now here, I have friends from Los Angeles oriented, I mean, from different regions that I was like, Okay, if, if we were not here in Chicago, I will never meet you.
Geovanny Mayorga 16:02
Right, right. So what advice because now obviously, you're working with the with international students here at MCC? And I'm sure you still have friends and connections back in Venezuela, which potentially we'll hear this podcast that we're recording today. What message would you have to people back in Venezuela, who are thinking of traveling to the United States come to Chicago? What message would you would you give them?
Shaudy Martinez 16:33
I think the message will apply to everybody, not just for my Venezuelans, my Venezuela people. And it was, it was, I started saying that a little bit before of this question. If you want to do it, just do it. Just do it. Because there are no reasons that can limit not just your dreams. I mean, if it's a dream, of course, dreams can come true. And you have to work for that. But you will never regret to do or to have an experience like this one.
Shaudy Martinez 17:12
Not just because you're going to achieve a language, not just because you're going to achieve a diploma or certificate is about the experience. I mean, I grew up I mean, I'm a totally different person. now than before, before I was in Venezuela. 2014 It was my my second third chance, I don't know which chance I'm a totally different person.
Shaudy Martinez 17:41
Because, yeah, leaving alone or having these friends from Korea from I don't know, I mean, you're in contact with so many different experience that that will never happen around your neighborhood. In your town. It this is another this is another thing it says that experience. If you want to do it for one year, for two months or three months, it doesn't matter. Do it? Do it come to United States, learn a language or learn new skills. And then when you go back to your country, you're going to be a different person. I mean, experience is unique.
Geovanny Mayorga 18:21
Yeah, I as well. I was born here in Chicago, but I grew up in Guatemala, Guatemala, nacia Guatemala. And I studied there a few years, until I came to United States when I was 9-10 years old, after living in Guatemala. And some of the things that I that I remember I say you know I've mentioned a lot in the podcast that I grew up playing soccer. I also grew up in the Corps in the church choir, and my school choir. I attended a Catholic private school, elementary school, let them on.
Geovanny Mayorga 19:03
And and I remember and I think I told that told you the story where I was, I believe was third grade. And at the time, I can't remember the year but Pope John Paul the second I believe, came to Guatemala and it was a huge deal of course, and every college school in Guatemala was sending their choir to sing for the Pope and sing during Mass and all that stuff. That was an honor. It was a huge honor.
Geovanny Mayorga 19:38
And when my school my high school choir was deciding who they were going to send. I was one of the last ones that they didn't pick so it I still remember that and I'm not happy about it. Yeah. But you also grew up or and you took up you know singing and choir tell tell the listeners a little bit about Yeah,
Shaudy Martinez 20:01
yes. Well, when I was in college, I used studying the Universidad Catolica. And the SBU. This is a huge honor. We love our university. And then a friend of mine. I mean, when I grew up in elementary school I did everything that I can I dance like for 11 years. I sing, I play instruments like tar, cuatro, whatever, whatever. They had, like an activity, extra activity after school. I did everything. Craft, yeah, I did everything. But then when I was in college, a friend of mine, she loved to see, we started together all high school.
Shaudy Martinez 20:52
And then we decided to study the same career, which was like social communication. I mean, it could be like, with different names like broadcasting journalism. I, my area was audio visual arts. But then the first three years we were together, because it's like, basic foundation for all the career and then the last two years. You choose your, your specific area, so I choose Audio Visual Arts, and she chose journalism.
Shaudy Martinez 21:26
So we split at that time, but the first year, she said, there is a choir. So I'm gonna go, I'm gonna have the audition, and I'm gonna go with them. And I was super attached to her like, okay, me too. I didn't know if I was good singer or whatever. I was just like, Okay, if you're going, I've got to do. At the end of the day, I didn't audition. They took me well, Allah, we were seeing it. But then I felt passion for that. And I was good. So good. Not anymore. I have to practice. But I was the soloist that in that was a huge honor. And I was like, oh my god, I can do it.
Shaudy Martinez 22:12
And yeah, I think like for four or five years, and then we we start a group and we seeing a in churches like for weddings. And yeah, it was an amazing period of my life. I love to sing. And then it was something like more professional I did like how do you call that is called to buy singles? Or this catchy phrases like the brand's has jingle? jangles Yeah, jingles? Jingles? I did that. And yeah, it was like the choir for singers. I don't know. It was like a bra. But this is a muscle that you have to practice like to go to the gym. Yeah, you have to think every day to improve. So when I came here, yeah, I stopped a little bit. So --
Geovanny Mayorga 23:11
You should pick it up again --
Shaudy Martinez 23:12
Just carry on --
Geovanny Mayorga 23:12
-- to work a lot. Lots of weddings here
Shaudy Martinez 23:15
Right now just carry varies. Yeah, it's okay. I'm always thinking like, I should join a group like a cappella group, because I love the harmonies and things like that, but like --
Geovanny Mayorga 23:29
Pentatonix, have you heard of them?
Shaudy Martinez 23:32
Yes, they're coming here. Yes, yes, they're there or they're always here. But yeah, they're amazing. But I'm very musical. I have like, two tattoos related to music. Yes. And yeah, I love music. I love concerts. I love classical music. I love everything related to music. I can cry if I
Geovanny Mayorga 23:55
and come in.
Shaudy Martinez 23:56
I mean, no, I mean, if I listen. I'm not an actress. I just, if I listen in a good song is like, I'm very emotional with music. So okay, yeah, I love music.
Geovanny Mayorga 24:09
You also like cooking and cooking shows? Yes. How's that? What what type of cooking shows are out there? Ya know, that kind of whatever is advertised on TV. But it's not what you watch.
Shaudy Martinez 24:22
I mean, I love every cooking show. On TV. I love it because I develop also that skill. Just practicing I myself I say okay, I'm gonna cook but I don't want to cook something regular just to survive like rice, beefsteak, whatever. But then I start being like, super obsessed. Like, if it was my birthday, oh, what do you want? A book of recipes. Well, I mean, I became obsessive. And I started cooking and cooking and cooking. I cook and cook savory food. I am pretty bad in desserts. I'm not good. But savory food. You will love it. Yes. And that also is like, it calmed me down. Like if I'm too stressed. And if I cook it, it's fine. Okay, okay. Yeah.
Geovanny Mayorga 25:21
And what are your future plans? I mean, is Chicago somewhere where you'd like to remain? Do you want to travel to other states in the US? Or what are your future plans?
Shaudy Martinez 25:31
Chicago, I feel Chicago like is my home. I'm being I've been here for nine years. Yeah, next year is going to be my 10th anniversary. So every time I go, I visit another state just for vacation. I tried to compare like, Okay, let me see what I can see here. Or if I feel like I can live in another city. And at the end of the day is like, oh, no, no, no, no, let's go back home. Let's go back home. But when I say let's go back home is let's go. But Chicago is like, I used to live in Caracas, of course. But I feel like Chicago is is my home. Now. And yeah, sometimes I feel like kind of sad. Because you don't usually want to say I'm going to go back home, it means correct as well. When I say home, now it's Chicago. So you never know here in United States, things change from minute to minute. So I'm always open to new opportunities. But so far, I'm gonna stay here in Chicago. And yeah, I'm kind of also new in this position. So I just want to develop this, this new help. For students, so yeah, I'm not going anywhere soon.
Geovanny Mayorga 27:01
Nice. Yeah. Chicago was always going to be home. I was born here. Yeah. have lived in other states. And, and it's, you get the best of everything in Chicago. Yeah. And I spoke again, when I spoke to Jessica about the differences between New York and Chicago. I haven't been out to LA yet, which is I want to see what, what that whole environment than LA is.
Geovanny Mayorga 27:24
And the community because there's a huge community of the largest community of what the multi cause Guatemalans in, in LA, Los Angeles, and Los Angeles. So you know, we'll see one of these days I'll, I'll try. I've been to California, and to Nevada, but not really traveled too much into Los Angeles or San Diego or anything like that to do want to go to the National Parks out there. So.
Geovanny Mayorga 27:49
But anyway, we've come to the end of our session today. I want to thank you for taking the time to be here. It was a --
Shaudy Martinez 27:58
Thank you.
Geovanny Mayorga 27:59
-- wonderful conversation and I hope our listeners got to know you a little a little bit more and got some good information that some good comments that you made. So I want to thank you. I want to remind our listeners to write to us at podcast@mccollege.edu and we look forward to speaking to you next time.
Shaudy Martinez 28:19
Thank you very much Geo.
Geovanny Mayorga 28:20
Thank you.
