Recently, I watched "A Million Miles Away" (or "A Millones de Kilómetros" in Spanish), a film that captures the moments of joy and sacrifice in the life of José Hernández (played by Michael Peña), a Hispanic immigrant and agricultural worker who becomes a NASA astronaut. Before this movie, I knew nothing about this story ?.

The film introduces us to José, a young dreamer and the son of migrant farmworkers who, despite cultural, economic, racial, and social barriers and rejections, never loses sight of his dream of traveling to space. The story begins with him building his dream amid the cornfields where he grew up, and it follows him through each of his challenges.

I was struck by how José's father showed him "the 5 ingredients of success" In other words, the steps that anyone can take to achieve their goals. This movie comes at a moment in my personal life where I feel that my determination is sometimes not as strong. But this story also made me realize the importance of the support of loved ones, focus, organization, and having clear goals, which can make a difference in our lives.

Thanks to his father's advice, José shows us that behind every great achievement is a mix of passion, perseverance, and planning. In his story, we discover the five ingredients of success:

1. Find Your Goal
2. Know How Far You Are
3. Map Out Your Path to the Goal
4. Learn What You Don't Know
5. Work Even Harder When You Think You've Already Made It

And I would like to invite you to do this exercise with me: turn each of these ingredients into questions for yourself. Can you answer these questions out loud right now?

1. What is your goal?
2. Are you aware of how far you are from your goal?
3. What is your map or roadmap to achieve that goal?
4. What are you currently learning that you don't know but will help you achieve that goal?
5. What are you doing to work even harder, even when you think you've already succeeded?

[WARNING: SPOILER ALERT] The fifth question was absolutely revealing for me. Because I believe I've had blind spots, and it's challenging to summon strength when facing mild fatigue. In the movie, there's a scene where José's partner asks him, "What do the people who have achieved your dream have that you don't?" José gives many excuses, primarily because of his different background and race. The partner persists in asking until they uncover the truth, and José realizes that he needs to study more, participate in a triathlon, learn to fly, acquire languages, and go scuba diving. So, I want to pose that question to you:

What do those people who have achieved the dream you have, which isn't related to money and privileges, know or possess? Dig deep and find your own answer. I recommend doing this exercise with pen and paper and placing the answers where you can see them every day.

Why ask ourselves this now?

We are in a month where cycles end, and in the coming months, new challenges will arise. It is the perfect time to sit down, reflect on our future, and prepare for the coming year. And I am sure that the three tools we launched on Platzi for you to use ADA (Our AI Learning Assistant) will help you in the quest for your own truth. If you're not familiar with them, let me tell you a bit more about them:

1.Get your growth plan

ADA will assess your current skills and show you the path to developing future skills. It's like having a personalized map with steps for your professional growth.

2.Discover your new career

Not sure where to direct your efforts? ADA helps you discover how you work best and what challenges keep you motivated. Additionally, it provides a clear route to the type of job you could have if you follow the right courses.

3.Measure your English proficiency

In a globalized world, English is more than a language; it's a vital tool for success. With ADA, you can determine your current level and get a course plan to improve, opening doors internationally.

Your action plan:

Stories like José Hernández's remind us that with the right ingredients and tools, any dream is achievable. We have hundreds of success stories within our community that resemble José's. What will be your story? I invite you to use the 3 tools and apply the 5 ingredients of success from the movie. So, here's the proposed action plan:

1. Answer the 5 questions derived from the ingredients of success.
2. Use ADA's tools to get a clear diagnosis of your skills, interests, and English proficiency.
3. Follow the personalized plan ADA provides and start working toward your goals today, scheduling time in your agenda to complete them.
4. Clearly write down your goal, long-term ambition, and what you need to get there within a year.
5. Share this goal with someone close who can provide emotional support, or if you wish, leave a comment on this blog post so we can read and respond to you.

At Platzi, we want each of our students to shine with their own light, overcoming any barriers and reaching their dreams. José Hernández's story is not just a movie; it's a reminder that with the right ingredients and the right help, the sky

If you want to hear from José (the real one, not the actor), I invite you to watch the TEDx talk 'El niño que tocó las estrellas' (The boy who touched the stars):