Palmer Trinity School

47 S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 A LU M N EWS book. He performed both his poetry at the Spanish Competition "Conferencia" earning him not only a perfect score, but also the judges commendations." He performed in two plays where his talent helped him shine. At the time, Colombia was in the middle of a political uprising. People were fleeing the country and many people had their lives turned upside down. Juan Camilo had to navigate his feelings of loss for his previous home, concern for the political state of his country, and adjusting to a new reality in a new country. While learning to adjust to his new life, he decided to focus his energy not on parties and the social aspects that come from senior year, but on really immersing himself in his studies. He enrolled in classes that he wouldn't have been able to attend if he had not immigrated to Miami and attended Palmer Trinity. "I took Marine Biology, and had the opportunity to travel to the Keys to study wildlife. Coming from the mountains, I would have never had the opportunity to study the oceans. ere was also a Comparative Religions class that was very important for the development of my spiritual life. I loved English literature and reading Shakespeare. And I found the student groups to be very inspiring. For me, it was the first time I saw teenagers fighting for social change. It inspired me," said Juan Camilo. Juan Camilo began to make friends with his classmates who were as eager about learning as he was. Slowly, he found himself at home within the Palmer Trinity community, and becoming inspired by the diversity around him. at inspiration carried him into a love for understanding the social and political aspects of life around him. During one pep rally where the senior class dressed up in military gear for a spirit day, Juan Camilo and a friend dressed up as Red Cross volunteers to make a stance against violence. After graduating from Palmer Trinity, Juan Camilo began attending FIU. Because of the influence of his teachers and friends at PTS, he looked into a wide variety of majors and classes including Marine Biology, Sociology, Anthropology, and Writing. ose interests began to propel him towards his future career as a journalist. But suddenly his life took a dramatic turn. His dad's company went through structural changes and fired him. Juan Camilo was no longer able to afford his education and made the decision to move back to his native Colombia. "I was a good student, but I no longer felt connected to Miami. My family was living a life that didn't belong to us. Our dream was over. In the end I decided I wanted to become a Spanish journalist. I picked the less traveled road, went back to Latin America, and enrolled in university," he said. In Colombia, Juan Camilo graduated from university with degrees in Journalism and Political Science. His passion for mass media brought him to the door of El Espectador, a legendary newspaper famous for its stance against drug trafficking, for an internship. "It was my dream to work on the most inspiring liberal media outlet in Colombia. I worked there for eight years. I became a cultural writer, and then an international journalist because—thanks to my time in Miami and at Palmer Trinity—I now spoke English. I had the amazing opportunity to cover a national election when Obama got elected for the first time. I was able to spend election night covering the results at McCain's camp," he said. Soon after, Juan Camilo made his way over to Salamanca, Spain to complete his master's degree in Latin American Studies. Before he knew it, he was offered an editor's position at Vice. Again from Raul Gonzalez: "rough the years I have been honored to keep in touch with him and follow his career, from working for one of the most prestigious newspapers in Colombia "El Espectador", to giving news capsules on the TV News, to being the director of Vice Magazine in Colombia. I am so proud of him and his achievements! Juan Camilo is the epitome of the PTS Global Student." "I fell in love with the spirit of Vice," he said. "I quit being a respected mainstream journalist to once again take the road less traveled. I was able to start up Vice in Colombia and focus on creating a media outlet devoted to understanding the conflict in Colombia." After three years of journalism at Vice and completing incredible work, including spending a week in the jungle with Colombia's most notorious guerrillas, the FARC, Juan Camilo left Vice to become an independent media creator. "I create new media outlets to change the world. I want to make the world a better place. I help companies enlarge their voice, tell stories that matter, and change minds," he said. Juan Camilo is the epitome of the ideal PTS Global Student." — R AUL GONZ ALEZ Juan Camilo Maldonado with his brother, Diego Maldonado '03, and Raul Gonzalez

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