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Who
Mentored Edward James Olmos?
Edward
James Olmos is an award-winning actor, producer, director,
and activist. He has used his celebrity status to promote
diversity through his speeches, numerous humanitarian
efforts, and his roles as the U.S. Goodwill Ambassador
for UNICEF and executive director of the Lives In Hazard
Educational Project, a national gang prevention program
funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.
***
I
was very fortunate. I was raised by my great-grandfather
and my great-grandmother. And great-grandparents are
exactly that: great, grand parents. And I must tell
you, that was probably the single most important aspect
of my life...When you're one, two, three, four years
old, and you're around great-grandparents, it's unbelievable.
Those were the strongest moments I had. He passed away
at the age of 87, my great-grandfather. I was approximately
six years old, and I had lived six years with him and
my great-grandmother, and they were very influential
in my life. And, to this day, I still remember almost
all that I possibly can of what they shared with me.
I was lucky that I had coaches when I played baseball,
when I was 7 years old, that were tremendous mentors.
They taught me discipline, determination, perseverance,
patience--key ingredients that I still use today.
My closest friend I consider to be probably my strongest
mentor. He's a person that now is of the age of about
77 years old. I'm 55. I'm still being mentored by him.
It's an ongoing process--it never stops. Wisdom is a
great way to understand your life. The elder has the
wisdom, the youth have the hope.
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