The life of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, activist, and professor Junot Díaz is all about discovery.
Just settling into the very first pages of “Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” or his new collection of short stories “This is How You Lose 
Her,” you’ll become part of a world unlike your own. His characters are so real and powerful, they almost become a friend who invites you into their life.
Emigrating from the Dominican Republic at an early age, Junot could barely speak a world of English. When a local librarian in New Jersey opened the idea of the library, he was able to switch into other world and take command of a language he didn’t speak.
In a recent interview with NBC Latino, Junot said that moment changed his life forever. After spending hours reading and writing, he eventually went on to prestigious universities, later teaching at those same universities, publishing award-winning novels, and winning one of this year’s MacArthur “Genius” Grants.
When asked how one can achieve the goals of becoming a great writer, or any other dream for that matter, Junot encouraged young people to live their own life:
Living other people’s dreams is the worst idea, the worst way to spend these very unique temporary lives.
Junot was also quick remind us to be dedicated.
I think hard work and self-friendship are essential in figuring [your dreams] out and reaching out to the people who would help you is probably the best way to figuring that out.
If you haven’t checked out any of Junot’s work, I highly suggest you do. But until then, check out his interview with Cafecito below.
-Stew
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