Students crowded into a room in the Heber J. Grant Building to hear television journalist Tannya Joaquin speak as part of a weekly lecture series. When she walked in, Joaquin said, the students gave her hope. “I see in you the hope, and I see where I was 30 years ago.”
Joaquin, an Emmy nominated journalist from Los Angeles, California, now living in Honolulu, visited BYU–Hawaii on Jan. 13 and shared how success is found by aligning passion and purpose. Answering a student’s question about how to get around closed doors and missed opportunities, Joaquin emphasized the importance of having a thick skin and staying persistent. “If you have the heart and commitment, I guarantee that’s going to break down doors.”
Joaquin told the story of an Oahu native and aspiring chef who wanted to be mentored by and work with Thomas Keller at his restaurant, The French Laundry. The aspiring chef sent a letter and toothbrush to Keller saying he was willing to scrub Keller’s toilets just to work around and learn from him, shared Joaquin.
The aspiring chef got the job and mentorship from Chef Keller, said Joaquin, and has become one of the most sought-after chefs in the industry. This story sets the example of the level of commitment all students need, said Joaquin.
“The thing I hope [BYUH students] take away [from my story] is believing in yourself. “Whatever the passion and purpose are for you, stick to it. ... What is your toothbrush?”
Choices and risks
Throughout her career, Joaquin said, she received every promotion and always stayed top-rated because she had faith in herself and her abilities. Although she was successful, her job was demanding and allowed little to no time off, Joaquin shared. She said she has had to make many hard choices regarding what she was willing to compromise throughout her career.
Prioritizing “sunshine, lifestyle, family and acceptance” was what Joaquin said brought her to Hawaii and to her current job as co-host for “Living808,” Hawaii’s first lifestyle TV show on KHON2. Madi Halliday, a freshman from Utah majoring in communications, said it was inspiring to hear how Joaquin made the choice to move across the country because she felt it was where she needed to be.
She said after hearing her story and knowing she had that same potential, “taking risks seems a little bit less intimidating. ... My biggest takeaway is having the confidence in yourself to get where you want to go with your goals.”
Proving them wrong
To the BYUH students who attended her lecture, Joaquin said, “If someone tells you that you can’t get there, prove them wrong.” When applying to UCLA, Joaquin shared, she was told not to apply because she would not be accepted. To that, Joaquin said, “How do I know until I try?”
After graduating from UCLA in political science, Joaquin said, she learned to have faith in herself and realized there are multiple ways to succeed. This was a lesson she turned back to frequently throughout her career, she shared.She said after UCLA, during her internships, a news director asked her, “Are you sure TV is for you? ... It is really cutthroat, and you are a really nice girl.” Joaquin said she answered with a firm, “Yes,” and refused to let his words affect her.
Inspiring others In Joaquin’s introduction, Lindsay Hadley, adjunct professor for the Faculty of Business & Government and lecture series coordinator, said Joaquin was a producer and news anchor in California.
Hadley said Joaquin was also a news anchor in Ohio before settling in Hawaii in 2002 and joining KHON as an anchor for morning news. Hadley said she chose Joaquin to speak because she considers her a “powerhouse” who has many accomplishments. However, Hadley explained, she wanted more than Joaquin’s success to inspire the students. She said she brought Joaquin to BYUH because of her heart and desire to “give back and make a difference in the world.”
Joaquin said God had placed people and opportunities in her life who have helped her to where she is today. She said most important choice to make is “being there and being true to what you know you can do and what you want to do.
“I know my passion and purpose, and I know that people have been brought into my life for a reason.” She said Hadley was one of these people because if not for Hadley, she would not have had the opportunity to speak to the students at BYUH. “I couldn’t believe the different skill sets, enthusiasm and energy throughout the crowd.”