Staff Corner: JOR-EL DE GUZMAN

As told to Jill Johnson

My father is a comic book aficionado.

He named me after his favorite character, Superman’s biological father. I was born and raised in the Philippines. When I was young, my father moved to the United States. The rest of the family joined him in Chicago when I was 17.

I did not expect any language barriers at my new American high school because I spoke English well. But I quickly discovered that American English, with its slang, idioms, and pronunciation, sounded very foreign. I had to start over, learning the language and culture at the same time. Fortunately, I adapted quickly. After enrolling at Harper College, where I received an associate degree, I joined the International Students Club so I could help other young immigrants.

I worked my way through college, first at a grocery store and later at IKEA, where I helped manage logistics and inventory. IKEA invested in my future, helping pay my tuition to the University of Illinois Chicago, where I finished my last two years of college and earned my bachelor’s degree.

I met my wife at Harper College. We both participated in the Harper Honors Program. She is Canadian-born, and her parents came from Hong Kong. We were married at Niagara Falls and incorporated both Chinese and Filipino traditions into our ceremony. Today, we have two children and have raised them to embrace their multicultural heritage.

After graduation, I worked for two technology companies, as data analyst and manager.

Then, during my time as a stay-at-home dad during the COVID19 pandemic, I realized that I wanted to work for an organization that creates meaningful impact.

I joined Rotary in 2022 as part of a 20-person team that supports Rotary’s financial systems and applications. We help ensure that critical processes, from club billing to expense reimbursement, run smoothly and reliably. When Rotary members are making a difference in their communities, I enjoy knowing that I played a small role in supporting them.

Outside of work, I am an avid gamer. My brother and I saved money from working for our father to buy our first PlayStation. Years later, I camped outside a Circuit City store for 36 hours to purchase a PlayStation 3. Today, gaming remains a favorite way for me to stay connected with my brother, nephews, and children.

The Superman tradition continues in our family. When my son was born, I named him Kal-El — the Kryptonian name of Superman. Meanwhile, my daughter, Yuna, is named after a character from my favorite video game, Final Fantasy X.

My native language is Tagalog. In college, I studied German and later took Japanese classes because of my love for anime. I also enjoy reading Chinese wuxia novels and Korean fantasy fiction