What an honor it was to have award-winning poet and New York Times best-selling author Javier Zamora ’08 return to campus on October 4. He shared his incredible story and wisdom with students, faculty, alums, and parents.

"Branson shaped me into the person I am today by teaching me that I had potential and that I should tap into that potential. It was my teachers at Branson who believed in me, showed me that I belonged here," says Javier.

Thank you to Javier, to our student moderators Kimberly D. ’25 and Elisa R. ’25, and our Librarian & Digital Literacy Specialist Charlotte King-Mills for organizing the event.

To our alumni community, thank you so much for joining us and hearing Javier share such an intimate and important truth-telling of his lived experience. 

Some feedback shared by our alumni community:

"Thanks so very much for making it possible for an alumna from the class of 1956 to see [Javier's presentation]. How far WE have come!!! —all involved are to be congratulated. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot." 

"How fortunate to have had Javier Zamora as a Branson alum and to have him speak to the student body and faculty, which includes some who might have shared a similar journey. His journey and struggle are an inspiration to all of us."

"Thank you so much for helping organize this wonderful event. I deeply enjoyed hearing Javier Zamora speak and was so moved by his honesty and reflections."

"Thank you for making it possible for me to enjoy this presentation. I loved Solito."

Photo Credits: Peopletography