Marina Gutierrez is an aspiring journalist. She was born and raised in Whittier, California and has grown to love her city. She believes in speaking your truth and standing up for what you believe in. Something she is very passionate about is the importance of mental health, thus she considers herself a mental health advocate. She enjoys watching the news to keep up with current events and politics. She grew up watching local news stations with her parents and found herself using a hairbrush as a microphone, as she stood in front of a mirror and practiced her “lines”. She has always dreamt of graduating from USC’s School of Annenberg and then continuing to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. She has taken many breaks from school this semester and has decided to return. She wants to show others that it is never too late to chase your dreams. 

This is my first time writing for El Paisano, and I am looking forward to this new journey.