Have you ever been discouraged from pursuing a dream because others said you wouldn’t be successful? The children’s book “The Meteorologist in Me,” written by Brittney Shipp, will inspire every adult and child who has ever had a dream, and now, Spanish readers can also read and enjoy the book.

SC&I alumna Violeta Yas ’07, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies and a minor in Spanish, has translated the book into Spanish, titled “La Meteorologa En Mi.”  

On the book website, Yas explained she was honored to write the translation, and “even though it is a children’s book, the theme is very wide reaching. It’s about a little girl who wants to be a TV meteorologist, but encounters a lot of naysayers (her brothers, classmates etc.) but after her teacher brings her favorite local meteorologist to the school for career day, her dream is realized and she’s brought on TV as the weather guest. I visit tons of schools so the message really resonates— having big dreams, having haters, diversity and inclusion, women in STEM, the fact it is bilingual, etc.”

Yas is an Emmy-winning bilingual meteorologist for Telemundo62 and NBC10 in Philadelphia who was born in Mar del Plata, Argentina and raised in North Jersey. After she graduated from Rutgers, Yas later earned her Certificate of Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. 

“Violeta has forecast the weather at the local, national, and international level, having started her career at AccuWeather in 2010. She has appeared nationally on Fox News, Fox Business, ABC World, News Now, and The Big Ten Network, as well as internationally on various networks in Bolivia, Panama and across Latin America.

“Violeta relocated to Philadelphia in 2014 to help launch Telemundo’s first ever local newscast in the area-- Noticiero Telemundo62," the book website explains. "She has since received two regional Emmy nominations for Best Weather Anchor. Violeta is proud of her South American roots and passionate about mentoring and encouraging young people of all backgrounds to set goals, work hard and embrace what’s unique about them. She regularly guest lectures for the journalism department at her alma mater, and is a strong supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs-- having participated as a child.” 

More information about majoring in Journalism and Media Studies at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information is available on the website. 

Book cover image: Courtesy of Violeta Yas ’07