April 6, 2025 • 23 mins
Mark Paz II shares his journey from shy kid to award-winning communication professor and TEDx coordinator and coach at Texas State University. He's on a mission to build strong relationships and develop good people.
Mark was my TEDx coach and I think he's a rock star. Thanks to his coaching, I was able to find my voice, craft my message and deliver my talk from the red carpet.
During our interview, you will learn how:
• Growing up with parents who emphasized service and education created the foundation for Mark's life
• Moving to a small school taught Mark essential relationship-building skills
• Using a strength-based approach to coaching helps people overcome their fears and deliver powerful messages
• Finding the redeeming quality in everyone builds connection and understanding
• Stepping outside your comfort zone and "doing it afraid" leads to growth and unexpected opportunities
• Maintaining a positive but realistic mindset helps navigate life's challenges
You can find out more about Mark Paz here.
Check out my TEDx talk and learn why you should take action - then figure it out.
If you enjoyed this interview, please rate and review the show. It really does help the algorithms. Remember, if you've got a story to share or know someone who does, reach out to me at judyoskam.com.
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Thank you!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Judy Oskam (00:02):
Have you ever met someone who helped you do
something you never thought youcould do, someone who gave you
the coaching and confidence tosucceed?
Welcome to Stories of Changeand Creativity.
I'm Judy Oskam.
On this episode, I'm excited toshare my interview with Mark
Paz II.
He's an assistant professor ofinstruction in the Department of
(00:25):
Communication Studies at TexasState University and he was my
coach for my TEDx talk.
Thanks to Mark, I was able tofind my voice, stand on the red
dot and deliver my message.
Mark often shines the spotlighton others, but I thought he
(00:45):
deserved a little time behindthe microphone too.
I hope you enjoy ourconversation.
Mark Paz (00:52):
I really love helping people grow by developing
relationships with them.
I think that's really important.
One of the goals, benefits,main motivators of communication
is being able to connect, learnabout people and then you know
the better you know someone, thebetter you can help them.
And to me, help and service andyou know, being of service to
(01:17):
other people is a big part of, Ithink, who I am.
Judy Oskam (01:20):
Well, and have you always been like that?
When you were a kid, would yourparents say that's kind of who
you were, or?
Mark Paz (01:26):
how did?
Judy Oskam (01:26):
you get into that?
Yeah, I think so.
Mark Paz (01:29):
I think it's always who I've been I'm not exactly
sure why.
My parents were both verygiving, open people who kind of
instilled that in me early on.
I guess you know my dad was amechanic and so I watched him
break his back and work his youknow butt off.
Judy Oskam (01:48):
A problem solver though.
Mark Paz (01:50):
Problem solver for sure.
I think I've definitely takenon some of that.
It's one of my favorite thingsto do is solve problems.
And he always was like schoolis important, you're not going
to be doing the same things thatI'm doing.
And so school became veryimportant to me.
My mom, and then her mom, mymeemaw they were always just
(02:13):
very giving and caring the kindof family that if someone needed
a roof, they provided it.
If someone in the neighborhoodwas having trouble at home, they
could come stay with us.
You know, everyone got a plateof food.
They made sure everyone was fed, and I think that set a good
(02:33):
example for me.
Now my dad did make a jokeevery time like hey, that
plate's going to cost you $1.50,but also would take the shirt
off of his back for anybody.
And so, yeah, I think sharingwas instilled in me early on,
and I think that, tied with theimportance of education in my
life, kind of led me down thispath of teaching, which is
(02:56):
something I actually neverthought that I was going to do
ever.
So, yeah, I think it wasinstilled in me.
Judy Oskam (03:03):
Well, and I got to meet you.
You were my coach for my TEDxtalk and I always knew you as an
expert teacher for theDepartment of Communication
Studies at Texas State and Ialways knew that you connected
so well with your students.
But I got to really see it andI got to see you loving on those
(03:25):
students and pushing them andguiding them and also guiding me
into uncharted waters and yourpath to higher ed.
You had some uncharted waters.
Did you ever expect you wouldbe here?
Mark Paz (03:42):
Not a chance.
Judy Oskam (03:42):
Talk about how you got here.
Mark Paz (03:44):
No, as a kid actually, I was so shy that I used to
make my younger brothers go tothe concession stand for me to
get.
And buy your snacks To buysnacks because I really did not
want to talk to anybody.
But I think when I was 10, wemoved to Brownwood, Texas, and
we went to a really small schoolout in the country called.
Judy Oskam (04:04):
Brooks, I've been to Brownwood yeah.
Mark Paz (04:06):
And so it's one of those schools, that's K through
12, was like 170 people.
So my class, specifically 21people, and in an atmosphere
like that you have to knoweverybody.
You're going to see them everyday, they know your business,
you know their business, but youhave to get along.
So I think that early on kindof helped shape me into a good
(04:27):
relationship guy, a communicator, and so when I graduated high
school, originally I was goingto come to what was then
Southwest Texas State Universityand I had a friend that was
going to come up here with me,but then she backed out and so I
decided to stay closer to home.
So I went to Angelo StateUniversity in lovely San Angelo,
(04:49):
texas, and I at that point hadno idea what I wanted to do.
So the thing that made sense tome was to get a business degree
, and so I did and I reallyenjoyed it.
I wrote a lot of business plans, learn, learned a lot about
(05:14):
business, computer informationsystems, but I just didn't feel
fulfilled at the end of it.
One of the things I noticed isthat a lot of my favorite
classes that I had to take werethings like math Oddly enough
public speaking or businesscommunication, and I think the
thing I took away from thatdegree is the importance of
relationships and business and Iwas like, well, I can kind of
take that anywhere.
And then the funny story is,after undergrad and I graduated,
(05:36):
I was like I'm going to TexasState finally, and that was
really cool because at thatpoint my youngest brother had
graduated high school and mymiddle brother was in the middle
of his college path.
So we all moved up heretogether, we all lived together.
So that was really cool.
And I want this is terrible.
(05:57):
I wanted to get into theMastcom program but by the time
I got around to applying, thedeadline had closed and so I was
looking around at the otherstuff and I was like oh my gosh
communication studies soundsawesome and so I applied, wrote
my, wrote my statement ofpurpose while I was working a
(06:18):
summer job in a liquor store.
And then I got in and got hereand and as soon as I started
taking classes it was much moredifficult than undergrad, but it
changed my life, it opened, itmade me I always love to learn
and comm studies also kind ofgave me a different perspective,
(06:40):
I think, also moving up here toa bigger area surrounded by a
more diverse group of people.
And when I got here I was likeman, this is the spot, this is
it.
And those two years in gradschool was trying and it was
difficult but I loved it so much.
And then, after I was a GIA,like a graduate teaching or
(07:02):
instructional assistant.
And then after grad school, Istuck around and worked as an
adjunct, per course, facultymember, which means I, you know,
taught classes as needed, whichis always kind of a sketchy way
to plan your future.
And during that time I also hada job at a furniture store that
worked with me on the teaching.
So I got to kind of do both.
(07:23):
The reason I bring up thefurniture store is because I
learned how to be pretty handy,and so one of my other loves and
hobbies that kind of also addsto my position with TEDx is
building stuff.
Like I learned, you know how touse tools and how to build
stuff and that really allowed meto I don't know be creative in
(07:44):
this role.
It really wasn't meant to becreative, but then it was, and
so, like I built the sets forthe stage.
So, yeah, I somehow foundmyself in a situation where I
got to do all the things that Ilove to do at the same place.
Judy Oskam (08:00):
Yes, yes, and you are an award-winning teacher.
You won the PresidentialExcellence Award for Teaching,
which, for listeners, that's avery big deal at the university
and it really shows a level ofexcellence across the university
.
So that's fantastic.
Thank you, yeah, fantastic, andyou're up for the Service Award
(08:20):
.
Mark Paz (08:20):
Better quit bragging on me.
Judy Oskam (08:22):
I can't help it.
I'm a fan, but I think what I'mhearing from you is growth,
mindset, creativity, hard workand looking for those
opportunities and then puttingyourself in a position to where
you can add value.
I know it says on your biobuild strong relationships and
good people.
Yeah, and I think that's sortof your bio build strong
relationships and good people.
Mark Paz (08:44):
Yeah.
Judy Oskam (08:45):
And I think that's sort of your mission, right.
Mark Paz (08:49):
Yeah, it really is.
It's corny and I know it's asimplistic view of things I know
, but it's real.
And I think the only way tochange and this is a lot, but
the only way to change the worldis to be good to the people
around you, right?
And if they're good to thepeople around them, and they're
good to the people around themand they're good to the people
around them, then, you know, ifwe keep doing that, then it
catches on and, and you know, weoftentimes think like what can?
(09:11):
I'm just one person, what can Ido?
Well, and that's all you can do, right?
Judy Oskam (09:15):
I mean, you can, you , of course, but also, I think,
being open to understanding theperspectives of others is super
important, and you can onlycontrol yourself and your own
behaviors.
You know which?
I'm sure you teach a lot andtalk about that.
Mark Paz (09:33):
I try to.
I try to make some good peopleand you know, I also think most
people are good.
Judy Oskam (09:39):
So well, if you start with that right, your
attitude changes.
It really does.
You never know, I'm telling you.
You've been such a help for meand a mentor for me, and I think
mentorship comes in variousways.
You never know a word, a phrase, a smile might impact someone
(10:02):
In your life who's been one ofyour major mentors that you
could.
I know there's many, yeah,there are a lot.
Mark Paz (10:09):
I would say definitely my mom and dad, for the reasons
we talked about earlier.
They were so giving and I meanthat was awesome.
Couldn't have started at abetter place.
And we didn't always have a lot, sure, but I always had
everything I needed.
And so then there were, youknow, a couple of professors,
specifically one adjunct, drPhilip Flam, in Angelo State.
(10:32):
He was an adjunct professor, sothat's kind of where I learned
like, oh, you can kind of dothis without having a PhD Right,
and he was just such a cooldude.
And then, when I got to gradschool, dr Mary Hoffman she was
the grad advisor for ourdepartment and I just connected
well with her.
I credit her to some extent forkind of opening my eyes to
(10:56):
things that I didn't see before.
So that was really great, great.
My brothers, my two youngerbrothers, are always a source of
inspiration for me.
Judy Oskam (11:12):
We all do different things and we're all so
different but alike in so manyways.
And then my wife man I, she's arock star.
I met her.
I think you did marry up there.
I'm just saying yeah she'sawesome.
Mark Paz (11:20):
You know, I think one thing that's been helpful to us
in our relationship is thatwe're complementary.
We're very different.
She's type A we're going tomake a schedule, here's an
itinerary, we're going to dothings this way and I'm like
that's cool man.
Things will work out the waythey're supposed to, and so
seeing her drive anddetermination and the ability to
(11:42):
plan things has helped me in mylife be a little bit more
structured and and you know, Ihave a lot of roles here and
there's a lot to keep up with.
So I think that has definitely,definitely helped me.
But yeah, she's um, you knowshe's, she's awesome.
Uh, hopefully she's going tolisten to this, um, but yeah she
uh, you know I'll send it toher, but yeah, she, you know she
(12:03):
started, she actually got herundergrad in Mass Comm and then
ended up working at the scooterstore which is in New Braunfels,
was in New Braunfels, Texas,and kind of got into the medical
world and then she that placeyou know fell apart.
Whatever she got out rightbefore that but she started
(12:25):
working at as a receptionist,front desk person at an urgent
care clinic and she just likeover the course of a few years
worked her way up into thecorporate office.
That business sold and her oldboss like said hey come with me
to this new venture old bosslike said hey, come with me to
(12:46):
this new venture.
And yeah, she's been um, she'sbeen doing that for a while.
But just to see her step up andgrow like yeah, was amazing.
And it was like, oh, this is,this is cool and she makes twice
as much as I do well, that's agood thing.
Judy Oskam (12:56):
So it allows me to do this job exactly.
It affords me the opportunityto teach right.
Well, and I see you and like,you're being a cheerleader for
your wife and you were acheerleader for me.
What is it?
How can you see something inpeople and help them move and
advance?
Mark Paz (13:18):
Yeah, no, that's a great question, that's a real
talent and I think that's a realstrength you have.
Judy Oskam (13:22):
Appreciate it.
Mark Paz (13:23):
Yeah, I think I've always been able to find a
redeeming quality in anybody,and I don't, so I think that's
part of it.
I think I'm also relativelygood, you know, talking about
myself, judy feels really weird.
Judy Oskam (13:38):
I know it does, but this is your deal.
Mark Paz (13:41):
But I think Helping people realize, celebrate and
work from their strength, theirstrengths, is really important.
You know, if you have someone, apublic speaker, for example,
who's really good at content andorganizing, but they're just
they're not as confidentdelivering, well then I would
(14:04):
let's focus on the content,let's make it so bulletproof,
waterproof, whatever otherphrase you want to use and so if
you're delivering a powerfulmessage, we can work on the
delivery.
If your delivery is strong andyou have natural charisma but
you're not that great at kind ofsynthesizing information, well
let's focus on this part.
(14:24):
So I think playing tosomebody's strengths um is is
really important, and I do thinkthat that is a skill that I'm
lucky to have is see what thoseare in people.
And then there's also likepumping people up like you said,
cheerleaders like I think it'simportant for people to feel
confident in their abilities,because most people we are our
(14:46):
own harshest critic.
That's right.
And getting trying to getpeople out of their head and
realizing that you do have thisin you and you can do it, like
that's can be pretty powerfulfor people.
And so I take a lot of pride inin attempting to do that and
that's kind of my yeah, it'skind of what my goal is.
Judy Oskam (15:07):
Well, and I think for me, you really sort of gave
me permission to kind of go downthis path of the TED Talk and
again it sounds like it's a talkand it's a 10-minute deal but
the buildup and the practice andthe coaching that you did I
know you do that with yourstudents as well, yeah, and your
(15:30):
colleagues and you probablyhave clients that you do that
with as well.
Mark Paz (15:34):
I should, you should, you should.
Judy Oskam (15:36):
Because I really think you really help tie things
together and you keep the focuson the audience as well as the
speaker, and mainly the message.
Yeah, keep the focus on theaudience as well as the speaker,
and mainly the message.
Yeah, so I know you learn thatfrom your education, but also
you have some natural talents inthat area, I think well, I
(15:57):
appreciate that.
Mark Paz (15:58):
Yeah, you know, I I've never teaching for so long.
I've become an okay publicspeaker, right, but I think it's
not anything like like,delivering a talk is different
from teaching.
You know that, yeah.
Judy Oskam (16:14):
Right.
Mark Paz (16:15):
Right, different set of roles, a different set of
pressures, and I think I neverdon't get me wrong.
I love attention, I love beingon the stage, that is the
classroom and all that stuff,but I've always liked helping or
seeing people grow who weredoing this public speaking thing
(16:37):
, for example, that they neverthought they could do, and I
think there are studies thatshow college students
specifically, when asked whattheir greatest fear is, public
speaking is above death, right.
Judy Oskam (16:48):
It's above death yeah.
Mark Paz (16:49):
So that's pretty wild.
Judy Oskam (16:50):
I've heard that for years.
Mark Paz (16:51):
I don't think it's just college students and I, you
know, I don't think that.
You know students, you have amix people that want to do it,
people that love to do it,people that are apprehensive, or
people that just don't like itand don't see the benefit that
it will eventually have.
So I really try spending a lotof time like reminding them hey,
you're going to do this, you'regoing to do this, you're going
(17:14):
to have, you know, three or fourmore years of college, or
you're going to have groupprojects and presentations, and
after that I like, for example,I've never had a job where I
didn't work on a team or Ididn't have to present
information to the boss, or oreven like develop like a story
that I would tell so peoplecould get to know me Like you're
(17:36):
constantly pitching yourselfand I think all of those things
it's it's important to have thenecessary communication skills
to do that.
Judy Oskam (17:45):
What do you want people to know about you at the
end of the day?
What do you want people to knowabout you At the end of the day
?
What do you want them to takeaway?
I can tell you what I knowabout you, but I'll let you say
what you're Shoot.
Mark Paz (17:56):
I just want people to know that I as again corny, as
it sounds I love people.
Yeah, I do.
Judy Oskam (18:07):
You're a real people person.
Mark Paz (18:08):
People who are perceived or think of themselves
as good or bad.
Like I find something ineverybody because I think
everybody is redeemable in someway.
(18:28):
Not everybody, but most of thepeople I find myself coming into
contact with and like as muchas being in this field and
teaching.
As much as people want to learnfrom me or register for a class
to learn from me, like I learnfrom them, I always try to learn
, try to learn and, if fornothing else learning about
(18:53):
people it just gives me a widerbase of knowledge for how to
approach the next person, right?
So, yeah, I just want people toknow that chances are, if I've
met you and we've had anyconversation, that I I can't
help it, damn it, I care aboutyou.
Judy Oskam (19:06):
You know a little bit.
Mark Paz (19:07):
And again I think that comes from my mom, my, my
grandma, my dad, my family and,honestly, the the small school
that I grew up in.
Also, I credit a lot of who Iam and my ability to communicate
across generations even to tothat, and like if I'm at a
(19:28):
football game, I'm talking to myfriends in my class, but also
Elmer, their 80-year-old grandpa, who's also at the game.
Judy Oskam (19:34):
Right.
Mark Paz (19:35):
So yeah.
Judy Oskam (19:36):
That's great.
Well and look ahead five years.
What are you going?
Mark Paz (19:41):
to be doing five years from now Hopefully something
similar to what I'm doing now.
I mean I don't see myself goinganywhere soon.
I really love the students atTexas State.
I love the diversity of them.
I love the things they bring tothe table.
I mean we have students thatare from small rural towns and
(20:02):
students who are from bigHouston-type cities and all
kinds of backgroundssocioeconomic backgrounds.
We have a lot of firstgeneration students and you know
, those are my people, that'swho, that's who I am, and so to
be able to stay here in an areathat I love teaching students
(20:26):
that I love, who get on mynerves sometimes, of course um,
yeah, so that's where I want tobe in five years.
I love it.
Judy Oskam (20:34):
I love it yeah any last closing thoughts you would
have about how to navigate yourpath and how you have learned
what you have learned.
I heard positivity.
I heard growth mindset.
I heard seeing the good inpeople.
Mark Paz (20:53):
Yeah, First I'll say in reference to TEDx and
coaching and working with you,you put in the work I had to
though Whoever's listening tothis just know that this was not
at all me, all me, you know.
(21:14):
Judy put in the work, she tookit very seriously, cared about
it tremendously and had amessage that she really wanted
to get out to everybody.
So that's where I'll start.
Judy Oskam (21:24):
I was a nervous wreck.
Mark Paz (21:26):
Sometimes.
But that's okay, that's part ofthe process, right?
And had I been giving a talk, Iwould have been a nervous wreck
too.
I don't want to pretend for asecond that it's easy for
anybody, because it's not.
Judy Oskam (21:38):
Looking back and then looking forward.
How do you piece all thattogether?
What do you want listeners toknow about your journey and how
can ?
Um, do it.
Yeah, not to quote Nike oranything, but just like, do it.
Like there are things in lifethat are rough and tough and
(22:00):
knock you down.
And, um, I think, like youmentioned, having a positive
mindset, but not in a toxicpositivity kind of way, because
one has to be realistic also,but not being afraid to do
something you've never donebefore.
I mean, when I was in gradschool and they were like, hey,
you're going to be a graduateassistant and you'll be
(22:22):
co-teaching this class, what?
No, I don't want to.
I mean, I want to, but I'm veryscared, and so just doing it.
And oftentimes what you'll findis if you just hop into
something and are positive aboutit, but also do the legwork to
build up the skills to do thatthing, then it's going to go how
(22:45):
it's going to go.
Either it's great and smoothand everything works out
initially, or it's a littlebumpy, but you learn the things
to fix to make that better, andit's just just going for things.
You know, sticking to stuff,yeah.
Thank you, mark.
Yeah, thank you for being youand thank you for being my coach
(23:07):
.
Yeah, I appreciate it andthanks for having me.
Thank you for being you andthank you for being my coach.
Mark Paz (23:08):
Yeah, I appreciate it and thanks for having me, and
you are too kind.
Thank you, jeannie.
Judy Oskam (23:15):
And thank you for listening to this episode of
Stories of Change and Creativity.
I'll include more informationabout Mark and about Texas State
TEDx in the show notes.
If you enjoyed this interview,please rate and review the show.
It really does help thealgorithms and remember if
you've got a story to share orknow someone who does reach out
(23:37):
to me at judyoskam.
com.
Thanks for listening.
Have you ever met someone who helped you do
something you never thought youcould do, someone who gave you
the coaching and confidence tosucceed?
Welcome to Stories of Changeand Creativity.
I'm Judy Oskam.
On this episode, I'm excited toshare my interview with Mark
Paz II.
He's an assistant professor ofinstruction in the Department of
(00:25):
Communication Studies at TexasState University and he was my
coach for my TEDx talk.
Thanks to Mark, I was able tofind my voice, stand on the red
dot and deliver my message.
Mark often shines the spotlighton others, but I thought he
(00:45):
deserved a little time behindthe microphone too.
I hope you enjoy ourconversation.
Mark Paz (00:52):
I really love helping people grow by developing
relationships with them.
I think that's really important.
One of the goals, benefits,main motivators of communication
is being able to connect, learnabout people and then you know
the better you know someone, thebetter you can help them.
And to me, help and service andyou know, being of service to
(01:17):
other people is a big part of, Ithink, who I am.
Judy Oskam (01:20):
Well, and have you always been like that?
When you were a kid, would yourparents say that's kind of who
you were, or?
Mark Paz (01:26):
how did?
Judy Oskam (01:26):
you get into that?
Yeah, I think so.
Mark Paz (01:29):
I think it's always who I've been I'm not exactly
sure why.
My parents were both verygiving, open people who kind of
instilled that in me early on.
I guess you know my dad was amechanic and so I watched him
break his back and work his youknow butt off.
Judy Oskam (01:48):
A problem solver though.
Mark Paz (01:50):
Problem solver for sure.
I think I've definitely takenon some of that.
It's one of my favorite thingsto do is solve problems.
And he always was like schoolis important, you're not going
to be doing the same things thatI'm doing.
And so school became veryimportant to me.
My mom, and then her mom, mymeemaw they were always just
(02:13):
very giving and caring the kindof family that if someone needed
a roof, they provided it.
If someone in the neighborhoodwas having trouble at home, they
could come stay with us.
You know, everyone got a plateof food.
They made sure everyone was fed, and I think that set a good
(02:33):
example for me.
Now my dad did make a jokeevery time like hey, that
plate's going to cost you $1.50,but also would take the shirt
off of his back for anybody.
And so, yeah, I think sharingwas instilled in me early on,
and I think that, tied with theimportance of education in my
life, kind of led me down thispath of teaching, which is
(02:56):
something I actually neverthought that I was going to do
ever.
So, yeah, I think it wasinstilled in me.
Judy Oskam (03:03):
Well, and I got to meet you.
You were my coach for my TEDxtalk and I always knew you as an
expert teacher for theDepartment of Communication
Studies at Texas State and Ialways knew that you connected
so well with your students.
But I got to really see it andI got to see you loving on those
(03:25):
students and pushing them andguiding them and also guiding me
into uncharted waters and yourpath to higher ed.
You had some uncharted waters.
Did you ever expect you wouldbe here?
Mark Paz (03:42):
Not a chance.
Judy Oskam (03:42):
Talk about how you got here.
Mark Paz (03:44):
No, as a kid actually, I was so shy that I used to
make my younger brothers go tothe concession stand for me to
get.
And buy your snacks To buysnacks because I really did not
want to talk to anybody.
But I think when I was 10, wemoved to Brownwood, Texas, and
we went to a really small schoolout in the country called.
Judy Oskam (04:04):
Brooks, I've been to Brownwood yeah.
Mark Paz (04:06):
And so it's one of those schools, that's K through
12, was like 170 people.
So my class, specifically 21people, and in an atmosphere
like that you have to knoweverybody.
You're going to see them everyday, they know your business,
you know their business, but youhave to get along.
So I think that early on kindof helped shape me into a good
(04:27):
relationship guy, a communicator, and so when I graduated high
school, originally I was goingto come to what was then
Southwest Texas State Universityand I had a friend that was
going to come up here with me,but then she backed out and so I
decided to stay closer to home.
So I went to Angelo StateUniversity in lovely San Angelo,
(04:49):
texas, and I at that point hadno idea what I wanted to do.
So the thing that made sense tome was to get a business degree
, and so I did and I reallyenjoyed it.
I wrote a lot of business plans, learn, learned a lot about
(05:14):
business, computer informationsystems, but I just didn't feel
fulfilled at the end of it.
One of the things I noticed isthat a lot of my favorite
classes that I had to take werethings like math Oddly enough
public speaking or businesscommunication, and I think the
thing I took away from thatdegree is the importance of
relationships and business and Iwas like, well, I can kind of
take that anywhere.
And then the funny story is,after undergrad and I graduated,
(05:36):
I was like I'm going to TexasState finally, and that was
really cool because at thatpoint my youngest brother had
graduated high school and mymiddle brother was in the middle
of his college path.
So we all moved up heretogether, we all lived together.
So that was really cool.
And I want this is terrible.
(05:57):
I wanted to get into theMastcom program but by the time
I got around to applying, thedeadline had closed and so I was
looking around at the otherstuff and I was like oh my gosh
communication studies soundsawesome and so I applied, wrote
my, wrote my statement ofpurpose while I was working a
(06:18):
summer job in a liquor store.
And then I got in and got hereand and as soon as I started
taking classes it was much moredifficult than undergrad, but it
changed my life, it opened, itmade me I always love to learn
and comm studies also kind ofgave me a different perspective,
(06:40):
I think, also moving up here toa bigger area surrounded by a
more diverse group of people.
And when I got here I was likeman, this is the spot, this is
it.
And those two years in gradschool was trying and it was
difficult but I loved it so much.
And then, after I was a GIA,like a graduate teaching or
(07:02):
instructional assistant.
And then after grad school, Istuck around and worked as an
adjunct, per course, facultymember, which means I, you know,
taught classes as needed, whichis always kind of a sketchy way
to plan your future.
And during that time I also hada job at a furniture store that
worked with me on the teaching.
So I got to kind of do both.
(07:23):
The reason I bring up thefurniture store is because I
learned how to be pretty handy,and so one of my other loves and
hobbies that kind of also addsto my position with TEDx is
building stuff.
Like I learned, you know how touse tools and how to build
stuff and that really allowed meto I don't know be creative in
(07:44):
this role.
It really wasn't meant to becreative, but then it was, and
so, like I built the sets forthe stage.
So, yeah, I somehow foundmyself in a situation where I
got to do all the things that Ilove to do at the same place.
Judy Oskam (08:00):
Yes, yes, and you are an award-winning teacher.
You won the PresidentialExcellence Award for Teaching,
which, for listeners, that's avery big deal at the university
and it really shows a level ofexcellence across the university
.
So that's fantastic.
Thank you, yeah, fantastic, andyou're up for the Service Award
(08:20):
.
Mark Paz (08:20):
Better quit bragging on me.
Judy Oskam (08:22):
I can't help it.
I'm a fan, but I think what I'mhearing from you is growth,
mindset, creativity, hard workand looking for those
opportunities and then puttingyourself in a position to where
you can add value.
I know it says on your biobuild strong relationships and
good people.
Yeah, and I think that's sortof your bio build strong
relationships and good people.
Mark Paz (08:44):
Yeah.
Judy Oskam (08:45):
And I think that's sort of your mission, right.
Mark Paz (08:49):
Yeah, it really is.
It's corny and I know it's asimplistic view of things I know
, but it's real.
And I think the only way tochange and this is a lot, but
the only way to change the worldis to be good to the people
around you, right?
And if they're good to thepeople around them, and they're
good to the people around themand they're good to the people
around them, then, you know, ifwe keep doing that, then it
catches on and, and you know, weoftentimes think like what can?
(09:11):
I'm just one person, what can Ido?
Well, and that's all you can do, right?
Judy Oskam (09:15):
I mean, you can, you , of course, but also, I think,
being open to understanding theperspectives of others is super
important, and you can onlycontrol yourself and your own
behaviors.
You know which?
I'm sure you teach a lot andtalk about that.
Mark Paz (09:33):
I try to.
I try to make some good peopleand you know, I also think most
people are good.
Judy Oskam (09:39):
So well, if you start with that right, your
attitude changes.
It really does.
You never know, I'm telling you.
You've been such a help for meand a mentor for me, and I think
mentorship comes in variousways.
You never know a word, a phrase, a smile might impact someone
(10:02):
In your life who's been one ofyour major mentors that you
could.
I know there's many, yeah,there are a lot.
Mark Paz (10:09):
I would say definitely my mom and dad, for the reasons
we talked about earlier.
They were so giving and I meanthat was awesome.
Couldn't have started at abetter place.
And we didn't always have a lot, sure, but I always had
everything I needed.
And so then there were, youknow, a couple of professors,
specifically one adjunct, drPhilip Flam, in Angelo State.
(10:32):
He was an adjunct professor, sothat's kind of where I learned
like, oh, you can kind of dothis without having a PhD Right,
and he was just such a cooldude.
And then, when I got to gradschool, dr Mary Hoffman she was
the grad advisor for ourdepartment and I just connected
well with her.
I credit her to some extent forkind of opening my eyes to
(10:56):
things that I didn't see before.
So that was really great, great.
My brothers, my two youngerbrothers, are always a source of
inspiration for me.
Judy Oskam (11:12):
We all do different things and we're all so
different but alike in so manyways.
And then my wife man I, she's arock star.
I met her.
I think you did marry up there.
I'm just saying yeah she'sawesome.
Mark Paz (11:20):
You know, I think one thing that's been helpful to us
in our relationship is thatwe're complementary.
We're very different.
She's type A we're going tomake a schedule, here's an
itinerary, we're going to dothings this way and I'm like
that's cool man.
Things will work out the waythey're supposed to, and so
seeing her drive anddetermination and the ability to
(11:42):
plan things has helped me in mylife be a little bit more
structured and and you know, Ihave a lot of roles here and
there's a lot to keep up with.
So I think that has definitely,definitely helped me.
But yeah, she's um, you knowshe's, she's awesome.
Uh, hopefully she's going tolisten to this, um, but yeah she
uh, you know I'll send it toher, but yeah, she, you know she
(12:03):
started, she actually got herundergrad in Mass Comm and then
ended up working at the scooterstore which is in New Braunfels,
was in New Braunfels, Texas,and kind of got into the medical
world and then she that placeyou know fell apart.
Whatever she got out rightbefore that but she started
(12:25):
working at as a receptionist,front desk person at an urgent
care clinic and she just likeover the course of a few years
worked her way up into thecorporate office.
That business sold and her oldboss like said hey come with me
to this new venture old bosslike said hey, come with me to
(12:46):
this new venture.
And yeah, she's been um, she'sbeen doing that for a while.
But just to see her step up andgrow like yeah, was amazing.
And it was like, oh, this is,this is cool and she makes twice
as much as I do well, that's agood thing.
Judy Oskam (12:56):
So it allows me to do this job exactly.
It affords me the opportunityto teach right.
Well, and I see you and like,you're being a cheerleader for
your wife and you were acheerleader for me.
What is it?
How can you see something inpeople and help them move and
advance?
Mark Paz (13:18):
Yeah, no, that's a great question, that's a real
talent and I think that's a realstrength you have.
Judy Oskam (13:22):
Appreciate it.
Mark Paz (13:23):
Yeah, I think I've always been able to find a
redeeming quality in anybody,and I don't, so I think that's
part of it.
I think I'm also relativelygood, you know, talking about
myself, judy feels really weird.
Judy Oskam (13:38):
I know it does, but this is your deal.
Mark Paz (13:41):
But I think Helping people realize, celebrate and
work from their strength, theirstrengths, is really important.
You know, if you have someone, apublic speaker, for example,
who's really good at content andorganizing, but they're just
they're not as confidentdelivering, well then I would
(14:04):
let's focus on the content,let's make it so bulletproof,
waterproof, whatever otherphrase you want to use and so if
you're delivering a powerfulmessage, we can work on the
delivery.
If your delivery is strong andyou have natural charisma but
you're not that great at kind ofsynthesizing information, well
let's focus on this part.
(14:24):
So I think playing tosomebody's strengths um is is
really important, and I do thinkthat that is a skill that I'm
lucky to have is see what thoseare in people.
And then there's also likepumping people up like you said,
cheerleaders like I think it'simportant for people to feel
confident in their abilities,because most people we are our
(14:46):
own harshest critic.
That's right.
And getting trying to getpeople out of their head and
realizing that you do have thisin you and you can do it, like
that's can be pretty powerfulfor people.
And so I take a lot of pride inin attempting to do that and
that's kind of my yeah, it'skind of what my goal is.
Judy Oskam (15:07):
Well, and I think for me, you really sort of gave
me permission to kind of go downthis path of the TED Talk and
again it sounds like it's a talkand it's a 10-minute deal but
the buildup and the practice andthe coaching that you did I
know you do that with yourstudents as well, yeah, and your
(15:30):
colleagues and you probablyhave clients that you do that
with as well.
Mark Paz (15:34):
I should, you should, you should.
Judy Oskam (15:36):
Because I really think you really help tie things
together and you keep the focuson the audience as well as the
speaker, and mainly the message.
Yeah, keep the focus on theaudience as well as the speaker,
and mainly the message.
Yeah, so I know you learn thatfrom your education, but also
you have some natural talents inthat area, I think well, I
(15:57):
appreciate that.
Mark Paz (15:58):
Yeah, you know, I I've never teaching for so long.
I've become an okay publicspeaker, right, but I think it's
not anything like like,delivering a talk is different
from teaching.
You know that, yeah.
Judy Oskam (16:14):
Right.
Mark Paz (16:15):
Right, different set of roles, a different set of
pressures, and I think I neverdon't get me wrong.
I love attention, I love beingon the stage, that is the
classroom and all that stuff,but I've always liked helping or
seeing people grow who weredoing this public speaking thing
(16:37):
, for example, that they neverthought they could do, and I
think there are studies thatshow college students
specifically, when asked whattheir greatest fear is, public
speaking is above death, right.
Judy Oskam (16:48):
It's above death yeah.
Mark Paz (16:49):
So that's pretty wild.
Judy Oskam (16:50):
I've heard that for years.
Mark Paz (16:51):
I don't think it's just college students and I, you
know, I don't think that.
You know students, you have amix people that want to do it,
people that love to do it,people that are apprehensive, or
people that just don't like itand don't see the benefit that
it will eventually have.
So I really try spending a lotof time like reminding them hey,
you're going to do this, you'regoing to do this, you're going
(17:14):
to have, you know, three or fourmore years of college, or
you're going to have groupprojects and presentations, and
after that I like, for example,I've never had a job where I
didn't work on a team or Ididn't have to present
information to the boss, or oreven like develop like a story
that I would tell so peoplecould get to know me Like you're
(17:36):
constantly pitching yourselfand I think all of those things
it's it's important to have thenecessary communication skills
to do that.
Judy Oskam (17:45):
What do you want people to know about you at the
end of the day?
What do you want people to knowabout you At the end of the day
?
What do you want them to takeaway?
I can tell you what I knowabout you, but I'll let you say
what you're Shoot.
Mark Paz (17:56):
I just want people to know that I as again corny, as
it sounds I love people.
Yeah, I do.
Judy Oskam (18:07):
You're a real people person.
Mark Paz (18:08):
People who are perceived or think of themselves
as good or bad.
Like I find something ineverybody because I think
everybody is redeemable in someway.
(18:28):
Not everybody, but most of thepeople I find myself coming into
contact with and like as muchas being in this field and
teaching.
As much as people want to learnfrom me or register for a class
to learn from me, like I learnfrom them, I always try to learn
, try to learn and, if fornothing else learning about
(18:53):
people it just gives me a widerbase of knowledge for how to
approach the next person, right?
So, yeah, I just want people toknow that chances are, if I've
met you and we've had anyconversation, that I I can't
help it, damn it, I care aboutyou.
Judy Oskam (19:06):
You know a little bit.
Mark Paz (19:07):
And again I think that comes from my mom, my, my
grandma, my dad, my family and,honestly, the the small school
that I grew up in.
Also, I credit a lot of who Iam and my ability to communicate
across generations even to tothat, and like if I'm at a
(19:28):
football game, I'm talking to myfriends in my class, but also
Elmer, their 80-year-old grandpa, who's also at the game.
Judy Oskam (19:34):
Right.
Mark Paz (19:35):
So yeah.
Judy Oskam (19:36):
That's great.
Well and look ahead five years.
What are you going?
Mark Paz (19:41):
to be doing five years from now Hopefully something
similar to what I'm doing now.
I mean I don't see myself goinganywhere soon.
I really love the students atTexas State.
I love the diversity of them.
I love the things they bring tothe table.
I mean we have students thatare from small rural towns and
(20:02):
students who are from bigHouston-type cities and all
kinds of backgroundssocioeconomic backgrounds.
We have a lot of firstgeneration students and you know
, those are my people, that'swho, that's who I am, and so to
be able to stay here in an areathat I love teaching students
(20:26):
that I love, who get on mynerves sometimes, of course um,
yeah, so that's where I want tobe in five years.
I love it.
Judy Oskam (20:34):
I love it yeah any last closing thoughts you would
have about how to navigate yourpath and how you have learned
what you have learned.
I heard positivity.
I heard growth mindset.
I heard seeing the good inpeople.
Mark Paz (20:53):
Yeah, First I'll say in reference to TEDx and
coaching and working with you,you put in the work I had to
though Whoever's listening tothis just know that this was not
at all me, all me, you know.
(21:14):
Judy put in the work, she tookit very seriously, cared about
it tremendously and had amessage that she really wanted
to get out to everybody.
So that's where I'll start.
Judy Oskam (21:24):
I was a nervous wreck.
Mark Paz (21:26):
Sometimes.
But that's okay, that's part ofthe process, right?
And had I been giving a talk, Iwould have been a nervous wreck
too.
I don't want to pretend for asecond that it's easy for
anybody, because it's not.
Judy Oskam (21:38):
Looking back and then looking forward.
How do you piece all thattogether?
What do you want listeners toknow about your journey and how
can ?
Um, do it.
Yeah, not to quote Nike oranything, but just like, do it.
Like there are things in lifethat are rough and tough and
(22:00):
knock you down.
And, um, I think, like youmentioned, having a positive
mindset, but not in a toxicpositivity kind of way, because
one has to be realistic also,but not being afraid to do
something you've never donebefore.
I mean, when I was in gradschool and they were like, hey,
you're going to be a graduateassistant and you'll be
(22:22):
co-teaching this class, what?
No, I don't want to.
I mean, I want to, but I'm veryscared, and so just doing it.
And oftentimes what you'll findis if you just hop into
something and are positive aboutit, but also do the legwork to
build up the skills to do thatthing, then it's going to go how
(22:45):
it's going to go.
Either it's great and smoothand everything works out
initially, or it's a littlebumpy, but you learn the things
to fix to make that better, andit's just just going for things.
You know, sticking to stuff,yeah.
Thank you, mark.
Yeah, thank you for being youand thank you for being my coach
(23:07):
.
Yeah, I appreciate it andthanks for having me.
Thank you for being you andthank you for being my coach.
Mark Paz (23:08):
Yeah, I appreciate it and thanks for having me, and
you are too kind.
Thank you, jeannie.
Judy Oskam (23:15):
And thank you for listening to this episode of
Stories of Change and Creativity.
I'll include more informationabout Mark and about Texas State
TEDx in the show notes.
If you enjoyed this interview,please rate and review the show.
It really does help thealgorithms and remember if
you've got a story to share orknow someone who does reach out
(23:37):
to me at judyoskam.
com.
Thanks for listening.
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