We were lucky to catch up with Robert Ortiz Archila recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Robert thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
To be successful, I believe it takes a combination of passion, perseverance, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from failure. Success isn’t a straight line; it’s a journey shaped by determination and the ability to stay true to your purpose while being open to growth. It’s also about building meaningful relationships and uplifting others along the way.
One anecdote that stands out in my journey involves my time as a doctoral student. Balancing academic rigor with other life responsibilities taught me the value of resilience and time management. There was a moment when I faced a significant setback—a research proposal I had poured months into was critically rejected. Initially, it felt like a personal failure, but I decided to approach it as an opportunity to learn. I sought advice from mentors, re-evaluated my approach, and dedicated myself to improving the project. That experience taught me not only the importance of perseverance but also the value of humility and collaboration.
That lesson stuck with me. Whether I’m guiding a student in my academic counseling role or tackling personal goals, I remember that success isn’t about avoiding failure but embracing it as a stepping stone to growth.
Robert, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Robert Ortiz Archila, I am a formerly incarcerated US Army Veteran and Doctoral Student at University of La Verne. Currently, I teach Aviation and serve as an academic counselor at a California Community College. I use my lived experience to catapult me into my full potential. Upon my release from custody 9 years ago, I set out to change my life and it has been difficult to maintain sobriety, complete my academic goals and serve my community all while being there for my family. I am currently writing a book about the many challenges that military veterans face after military service.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I recently had to make a professional move from a place of extreme comfort to the unknown. More specifically, I stepped down from a full salary from a California State University into part-time adjunct positions near my new home. The daily drive to the university was about 4 hours round trip with traffic which made it difficult to be there for my family. I was scared of leaving the financial security that the university provided for me in lieu of spending more time with my family. I have missed out on important events of my life because of my career. Nevertheless, after only one full semester, I have been appointed as a full-time counselor/professor at a new institution that is about 9 miles from my home.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
My resilience is rooted in trauma of being a military veteran, an addict, enduring homelessness, a person with a disability, first generation college student, identifying as a Latino, and a person with a passion for education. I have dedicated my life after incarceration to helping others. I have been able to do this by setting the example and pursuing higher education. Today, I hold an AA, AS, BA, MS, and I am a doctoral student.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.google.com/search?q=robert+ortiz+archila&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS1129US1129&oq=&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgYIARBFGDkyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRg7MgYIBBBFGD0yBggFEEUYPTIGCAYQRRg90gEIODY5MmowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
- Instagram: robertortiz7979
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertortiz123/
Image Credits
Neo, Irene Sotelo