By Editor Ken HarveyPerseverance of Migrant Students An Example to All
By Editor Ken Harvey
Hundreds of Washington migrant students showed why they should be considered an important part of America’s future.
This year’s Washington Sate Exemplary Migrant Student yearbook featured 325 them, and nine migrant and former migrant students around the state won Gates Millennium Scholarships, worth up to $120,000 each, covering up to six years of higher education.
Many of the "exemplary students" have had to overcome tremendous obstacles,
and yet have succeeded and have set lofty goals for themselves – many of them
wanting to become teachers, doctors, lawyers, clergy and fill other roles where
they can be of service to others who face challenges similar to their own.
Besides having to learn a new language and culture, they frequently move with their families to follow the crops or to return to Mexico for the winter. Others have come to the U.S. on their own to pursue the American Dream, and they miss their loved ones in another land. Many have to work part-time during school and full-time on weekends and vacations just to survive. And several of them have kept going despite the death or serious illness of parents or siblings. A few have suffered serious injuries themselves.
The Gates Millennium Scholarship winners include migrant students Blanca Elizabeth Rodriguez of Warden, Maria Denise Salgado of Royal City, Gregary Alvarado of Seattle, Tanya Isabel Castellon of Lynden, Blanca Gloria Chavez of Wapato, Alba Rosa Cuevas of Mattawa and Janette Escamilla of Warden. Former migrant students winning the scholarship included Lizeth Chiprez of Sunnyside and Maria Luisa Guillen of Chelan.
Gates winner Blanca Rodriguez was 3 when she moved with her parents, Mercedes and Margarita Rodriguez, from Mexico to Warden. Her father, Mercedes, works on a ranch, while her mother, Margarita, works at such jobs as sorting potatoes at packing houses.
Excelling in school has not been easy for Blanca.
"Every year we go to Mexico, but we miss about a month of school," she says. "Teachers give us the homework we need. We do some homework ahead of time. But then in Mexico we have to do it on our own. There is no one to help us. We have to work really hard at it while we’re over there."
Blanca credits Warden history teacher Angie Dorman with helping her and best friend Janette Escamilla to both win the full-ride scholarship.
"It was due in January, and I had been gone to Mexico for a month," Blanca explains. She had started writing the essay by hand while in Mexico. The week she returned, Mrs. Dorman had Blanca, Janette and another student come to her house every night to work on their applications.
They took turns caring for Mrs. Dorman’s children as other two students
manned the family’s two computers.
"She was a lot of help," says Blanca.
A few weeks later, Janette was notified she had won one of the scholarships,
so Blanca began going to the Post Office every day, praying for a letter.
Finally an envelope arrived from the Gates Foundation.
"I got the letter," she told a friend. "Well, open it," her friend urged. "I can’t. You open it!" she responded.
Finally she opened it and read, "Congratulations!" She ran home to her excited mother, then to school to find Mrs. Dorman.
"Mrs. Dorman was so excited," Blanca recounts. "She was going around shouting, ‘That’s two! That’s two!’ And I was just in shock."
Blanca does more than just make good grades. She has volunteered with Gear Up, 21st Century and other community programs. More recently she has been hired by Gear Up to provide tutoring to younger students and by 21st Century to provide evening computer classes for adults.
While she plans to become a landscape architect, she enjoys teaching both the younger students and the adults. She wants to continue such service during the summers.
"It’s better than working in the fields," she says.
She shouldn’t have to work too much in the summers, however. Besides the
$120,000 Gates Millennium Scholarship, she also received numerous other grants
and scholarships, including a $40,000 CAMP scholarship from the University of
Idaho, where she plans to attend this fall.
Blanca says the scholarship "will change our family dramatically. On my mom’s side, my sister and I are the only ones to have even graduated from high school. So it’s really a big deal. I can’t wait to see how everything is going to be 10 years from now."
One goal she is certain of. "I want to help my parents so they won’t have to work so hard."
Maria Guillen of Chelan was another recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship – the third out of Chelan to earn this award.
Maria is very active at Chelan High School, voted "Student of the Month" many times and also picked for "Who's Who Among America's High School Students." As a senior she was ASB president and active in Dance Club, Spanish Club, International Club, Tatu, Med Club, Catholic Youth Group, choir, FCCLA, National Honor Society, track and cross country.
Maria will attend the University of Washington this fall, ultimately to study epidemiology.
In her application, Maria told her personal story, excerpted here in part:
I was only 5 when we left Mexico. … We arrived a few weeks before school started, and I anticipated my new school. Will the kids understand me? What if I cannot learn English, what will I do?
My first day of school arrived, and I wore my prettiest blue dress with a white collar and white sandals. I felt beautiful as I entered my kindergarten class with a bright smile.
I tried talking to the other kids but they moved away as if I was a disease. One girl who spoke Spanish said I looked ugly in that hideous dress, and I definitely looked like a beaner. I asked her what that meant, and she said to look in the mirror.
I was sad; I didn't understand why the other children didn't like me. Did I really look like a bean? On the playground, the kids avoided me. I was an outcast, and a group of girls bullied me for the next six and a half years….
One of my memories is sitting in a circle talking about what we would do when we grew older, and I said I wanted to be a doctor. [My teacher] looked at me and said, "You have to be smart, and know English really well."
Those words caused extreme pain, creating an emotional weak mark in my personality. Not only was I constantly being bullied, but I was not that bright! I began to push myself to reach excellent work in class…
That year my family decided to move to Chelan. … It was in the middle of fifth grade and I was nervous. I prayed and hoped that I wouldn't find bullies in this school. …
I walked in anticipating the harsh remarks, but instead a boy named Mike walked me to Mrs. Gardener's room. Later that day, I entered a reading class for lower reading students, where the kids said, "Hi Maria," when Mrs. Curry introduced me. I felt special since no one had introduced me before.
Mrs. Curry made me take a reading test in a corner. She was amazed. I had managed to score higher than the average score. She said, "I don't know what your other reading teacher believed, but I think you're a bright child."
I can still remember those words. She actually believed I was bright! Maybe there was hope for me after all….
My shyness began to disappear, and I started to make long-lasting friendships. Most of my classmates talked to me, and they thought I was funny!
During 7th grade, my passion for reading and writing grew tremendously. In the back of my mind, the words of that teacher lingered. I began to be hard on myself and pushed myself to do well in every subject. I wanted to be somebody when I grew up, and I wanted to prove to that teacher I could be a doctor if I wanted.
In the following years, I achieved academic success, granting me access to the honors program. I was the only Hispanic student in the program. … If it were not for the words of that teacher, I do not think I would have had the same level of perseverance….
I learned over the years that I am strong and that we shouldn't allow injustices to ruin our spirits. After all, for years I struggled with feeling inferior. I've decided that when I receive my bachelor's diploma with my sweat, blood and tears, I will find that teacher, give her an enormous hug, and thank her. After all, for years I've converted the negativism to positive energy. Why not continue?
High school students honored in the Exemplary Migrant Students Yearbook "were invited to share their life stories and goals with us because they are role models for younger students, and they have worked hard to achieve high academic standards," writes Dr. Jane Gutting, Superintendent of Educational Service District 105, which publishes the yearbook.
"Even though these students have migrated from school to school, they have found ways to engage their communities and participate in school and community activities," she continues in the book’s Forward. "We celebrate the persistence and success of these wonderful students."
Some of the graduating seniors included in the Exemplary Migrant Students Yearbook are:
LAURA GOMEZ, Eastmont High School, 3.044 GPA: "One obstacle that I had to overcome was the tragic death of my father and brother. It was only two years ago and it still hurts. We had a head-on collision. The two most important men in my life passed away and I was in critical care. I worked as an interpreter at the Central Washington Hospital. This helped to increase my interest in the healthcare field. Being part of CWH helped me realize that helping others is my vocation."
ANGELICA LOPEZ, Wahluke High School, 3.325 GPA: "An obstacle I had to overcome was my brother’s leukemia. He was diagnosed late in my junior year. My mother left to Seattle with him, and I was left to take care of my siblings and father. I had to learn to cook and take on household chores, but it has all made me stronger. I plan on attending Eastern Washington University. I want to major in communications broadcasting."
DULCE ORTIZ, Wahluke High School, 3.057 GPA: "An obstacle that I overcame was the death of my baby sister. She was the one that kept the family together. Everyone completely shut down. My grades went down, I wasn’t focused, but I realized that I am the oldest and I need to put my family back together. Nobody in my family has been to college and I want to be the first. I want to have a career in Early Childhood Development, and I want to make a difference in children’s lives."
ESMERALDA LOPEZ, Pasco High School, 3.55 GPA: "The obstacles that I have to overcome was my father's death and my attitude. Now, an obstacle between my education and me is money. My sister and I are both seniors and we're both planning to go to college. Having a single parent is going to be hard to pay for our education. I would like to become a dental hygienist, but before that I would like to be able to go on internship as a dental assistant."
HUGO ZAVALA, Wenatchee High School, 3.841 GPA: "Some obstacles that I faced were working in the orchards. This was hard work and low paying. I had to help during the weekends and during every school vacation. I need to help my parents whenever I can. They once told me, ‘The little you help will be less work for us.’ That always inspired me and made me work harder. I plan to go to Wenatchee Valley College until I obtain all of the requirements needed to become an ESL teacher. After that I plan to go to Central Washington University and join the CAMP Program. There I plan to obtain a degree in teaching and then start looking for a job in Washington State."
ALEGANDRO LOPEZ BAUTISTA, Ilwaco High School, 3.12 GPA: "Despite the fact that I have been on my own I have managed to attend my classes at Ilwaco High School on a regular basis. When I first arrived, I started working in agriculture. It was then that I realized that I needed to go back to school. Learning English has been a challenge. All my classes are in English and I must work extra hard to earn good grades. I have learned a lot of interesting things at school. It is really wonderful to have the opportunity to learn and study. I am planning to continue my education and pursue a career in architecture. My dream is to have my own business."
VICKY GARZA, Connell High School, 3.749 GPA: "I have been able to overcome obstacles by keeping my grades up. Ever since I was small I would go to Mexico for about four months. Once my sister and I got to high school we would only go for two months. Now, since I am a senior, I only went for three weeks. I am proud because I was able to keep my grades up. I owe this to my teachers and parents who supported me. After I graduate I plan to go to Eastern Washington University in the fall. I plan to study Multimedia Programming and Development."
MARIO HERMOSO, Davis High School, 3.683 GPA: "When I came to the United States, I started working in agriculture. I had to work 8 to 12 hours almost every day. While I was working in those jobs, I faced discrimination. During a period of time, I had to work after school in a warehouse. When I started to go to school, I didn’t understand any English. I felt lost and scared but I tried the best to continue in school and now I feel comfortable. I am not sure in which educational area I will enroll in college, but I would like to study in a health program to help sick people. Also, I am thinking about the possibility of becoming a bilingual teacher to help other students who come to this country for the first time because I know how hard it is to learn a different language and culture."
ERIKA ESTRADA, Eisenhower High School, 3.979 GPA: "My family has always had financial problems. I remember when I was 10 years old my parents took me to work with them in the fields. Waking up at 3 a.m. and picking cherries all day was not fun at all. The experience made me realize that I didn't want to pick cherries all my life. I want a job I will enjoy, like accounting. After graduation from high school I plan to attend the University of Washington for at least five years. I will study business and major in accounting and earn a minor in Mathematics. After graduation from the university I plan to become a certified public accountant."
ESTELA ORTIZ, Pasco High School, 3.912 GPA: "My biggest obstacle is to learn English as my second language. I have been in this country three years and being far from my family and my customs it is still difficult for me. Another important obstacle is to get money for college. My long-term goal is to become a web specialist. I will work hard during the time I have left at high school, as well as at college. I've had the opportunity to learn about computer technology. I became interested in this field since I took my first computer class and found computer literature to be very interesting."
MARIA PEREZ, Kiona-Benton City High School, 3.94 GPA: "Being bicultural has increased my awareness of different cultures and has sparked my interest in traveling, new cultures, and foreign languages. In order to incorporate my interests with my career, I will pursue a degree in international relations with an emphasis in Latin American Studies. Learning to speak English while maintaining my native language was a struggle. At a young age I began to work twice as hard as my peers in order to master the language. Sometimes it was hard and I became frustrated with myself. But I continued to work hard, and with dedication was able to conquer this obstacle that as a child I believed I would be unable to overcome."
GUADALUPE CONTRERAS, Pasco High School, 3.96 GPA: "My long-term goal is to become a dentist and have a private office. Another goal is to become a missionary for my church and travel to South America and share the gospel. I come from a family of seven kids. My parents are migrant workers and they do not know how important it is to get a degree. I am proving to myself that my background is not an obstacle. I have confidence that I will reach my goals."
DEREK YASUNAKA, Ilwaco High School, 3.413 GPA: "My long-term goal is to complete my studies and receive a degree in construction and architecture. Providing housing for low-income families and the homeless has always been a dream of mine."
JENNIFER SANCHEZ, East Valley High School, 3.632 GPA, writes: "Upon completing my four years of college I will apply to a medical school. By continuing to work hard and focus, I hope to become a great pediatrician."
ALMA JIMENEZ, Granger High School, 3.34 GPA: "I want to become a teacher because I want to be able to make a difference in my community. The one obstacle that I have overcome is learning a second language. English is needed for everything in this country. In order to become someone in life you need to know it. I believe that there is so much more I need to learn and I will."
MIGUEL MUNGUIA, Highland High School, 3.695 GPA: "I want to go to a technical school and graduate as an auto mechanic and buy a home for my family."
RAFAELA QUINTERO, Mabton High School, 3.243 GPA: "I would like to become a kindergarten teacher because I like to work with kids. One of the obstacles I have had has been the lack of participation in class. I was so shy. Another important obstacle I have overcome was learning the language. I started to learn English at the age of 16. I had a hard time when I was in the 9th grade because I didn't speak English and I couldn't understand anything."
FELIX FARIAS, Pasco High School, 3.664 GPA: "Some of my long-term goals are to go to college and become a math teacher or work on a job that I like and enjoy. Some of the obstacles that I overcame are learning English as a second language. I have learned a lot but I’m still learning, and love my friends, and my country.
EDUARDO PEDROZA, Prosser High School, 3.78 GPA: "I would like to be a Physical Education teacher. The first obstacle that I had to overcome was to adapt to a new culture and learn English. Another obstacle that I had to overcome was making new friends."
ANA BARAJAS, Royal City High School, 3.27 GPA: "I plan to go to Bellevue Community College or LA Institute of Interpretation/Translation. I plan to become a professional interpreter for a courtroom or a medical organization. I plan to help many people."
DENISE SALGADO, Royal City High School, 3.92 GPA and recipient of a $120,000 Gates Millennium Scholarship: "I would like to attend the University of Washington to minor in Biology. I will pursue a career in Dentistry and obtain a Ph.D. "
CRICELIA CALDERON, Wahluke High School, 3.385 GPA: "I am going to attend Eastern Washington University for the fall quarter of 2005. My plans are to go into the nursing field or get a law degree. This will enable me to provide service to our communities that are in need of great assistance. I had to start working to help my parents and at the same time go to school and be involved with sports. This was very challenging, but I did it."
BLANCA CHAVEZ, Wapato High School, 3.92 GPA and winner of a $120,000 Gates Millennium Scholarship: "I would like to attend a four-year university and earn a Bachelor in Biology. I would then like to continue my education by attending medical school or getting a Masters degree. "
ALEJANDRA ESPINOZA, Wapato High School, 3.74 GPA: "I plan to attend a four-year university where I will major in Political Science and English. While attending college, I plan to be active member of my community and school. After my four years of undergraduate study I plan to apply to law school where I can hopefully graduate with high honors and become a successful lawyer."
DIANELY ACEVEDO, Davis High School, 3.943 GPA:"I want to enroll at Central Washington University. My future goal is to become a dietitian or a bilingual teacher for high school to teach ESL and Native Spanish."
MISAEL ACEVEDO, Davis High School, 3.757 GPA: "My long-term goals are to have a better future for myself than that of my parents, to go to a four-year college, and become an architect. I want to help my parents economically. The obstacles that I have overcome are the language and moving to Yakima, a place where I didn’t know what to expect."
ANTONIO PADILLA, Davis High School, 3.709 GPA: "I plan to attend Whitman College and study education to teach high school students."
HURBITA RUIZ, Davis High School, 3.937 GPA: "My long-term goals are to go to college and study dentistry. I would also like to travel to different parts of the world."
CYNTHIA SUAREZ, Davis High School, 3.961 GPA: "One of my long-term goals is to obtain my four-year college degree and major in psychology. After college I would like to attend law school to become a lawyer. One of the challenges that I have encountered would be not being able to understand the language. Another challenge that I have faced has been economic issues, and we have moved a lot because of these issues."
HERACLEO ESQUIVEL, Brewster High School, 3.656 GPA: "I have set my mind to pursue a career in architecture, which will take me about five years to complete. I came from Mexico and began school in the seventh grade. In ninth grade I knew very little English and was placed in an English as a Second Language class. That class was difficult but I was dedicated and kept on trying and I cheered my successes."
JONATHAN MARISCAL, Brewster High School, 3.369 GPA: "My long-term goal is to attend Heartland Baptist Bible College after I graduate from high school. I wish to become a pastor and also learn about mission work."
YESICA SERRANO, Brewster High School, 3.666 GPA: "I want to become an elementary teacher or a junior high math teacher. I am bilingual and I plan to help those students that have a language barrier. Our school just helped launch a new program where students teach other students about the new high school graduation requirements. Seniors and juniors talk to freshman in a two-day course about the requirements. I am the co-regional coordinator of the program."
JESUS ROMERO, Eastmont High School, 3.439 GPA: "One of my goals is to graduate from a university and get a good paying job. One obstacle is that I had to leave a school to go to another. Every time I had to start over. Sometimes I had to take the same class that I took in the other school just because I moved one or two weeks before the class was over."
MARIA CISNEROS, Chelan High School, 3.366 GPA: "I would like to study nursing because I like helping people. Another goal I have is getting a job to help my family with the bills. I have overcome many obstacles since I have been living in the United States. One was learning to speak English and write it when I had just come from Mexico. I have also overcome the obstacle of people who thought and said I was not smart enough to be a good student, but I think I am."
ELOINA GARCIA, Othello High School, 3.402 GPA: "After I graduate I want to find a good paying job so I can save enough money to go to Mexico. Once I am in Mexico I hope to find a good job and live there. An obstacle I have overcome was learning the English language. I have better grades here in the United States that I did in Mexico. I have A’s and B’s here. I am very proud of this accomplishment."
ARACELI GOMEZ, Othello High School, 3.853 GPA: "I will be the first generation in my family to go to college. Not only would I be proud of myself but my parents also would be proud of me. An obstacle I had to overcome was the language barrier. When my family and I came to the United States, the school that I went to held me back one year because I didn't know how to speak English. I was also very shy and I didn't talk to the teacher or any of my classmates. That made it harder for me to learn in school."
JUAN PABLO PRADO, Othello High School, 3.287 GPA: "I would like to go to college after high school. I would like to study communications because radio and television broadcasts have always interested me. In college I would like to play soccer. English is one of the obstacles I am dealing with. It is frustrating trying to communicate or express myself."
DALILA OROZCO, Tonasket High School, 3.123 GPA: "My long-term goals are to graduate from high school and some day from college. I would like to grow as an individual. Not to long ago my family and I were involved in an automobile accident. Since my mother broke her hip I had a lot of responsibility at home and school. Even though my schedule was very tight, I tried my best to get things done on time."
JOHANA ALVAREZ, Wenatchee High School, 3.353 GPA: "My long-term goals are to go to Wenatchee Valley College, and graduate as an RN, and make my parents very proud of me, for all my accomplishments. Then I hope someday to get married and have a family."
ESTELA AVILA, Wenatchee High School, 3.497 GPA: "My goals are to continue studying by going to college and becoming a teacher. My long-term goals are to work in a school and teach children to learn in a more exciting way. Some of my obstacles are the language and the cultures. I say this because when I arrived here those were some things that I personally had to adapt to. The language, for example, is a major one because it is very important to know how to speak it in order to communicate, but right now I'm learning more on how to speak it and also writing it. Another obstacle is racism toward people from other races."
DALILA RODRIGUEZ, Mount Vernon High School, 3.271 GPA: "My long-term goal is to attend Skagit Valley College for two years after graduating from high school, then transfer to Western Washington University. I would like to start by becoming a paralegal and if I like it, maybe becoming a lawyer. My biggest obstacles to overcome was learning to speak English and adapting to this country. It was very difficult. I did not know a word. It took a lot of work to learn and understand the language but at the end it was worth it."
VERONICA CRUZ, Nooksack High School, 3.138 GPA: "I would like to finish high school, go to college and get a part-time job. Then I will go to a university. I want to be a computer programmer or maybe an English teacher. There are obstacles to my education because I don't work and I don't have money. My dad is the only person working in my family. I have two sisters and two brothers. Another obstacle is the negative attitude some people have. They thought I couldn't do it, but they were wrong."
MARIBEL RAMIREZ, Woodland High School, 2.89 GPA: "I moved to Washington from Mexico when I was 17 years old. I had learned a little English but it was not enough to start a new life in the United States. In addition to learning English, I had to get used to a new school system, with different teaching methods and different requirements. I have many goals and dreams, but the main ones are to continue my studies to obtain a better education and be a model for other young people. My plan is to go to a four-year college after finishing at Lower Columbia College.
ESPERANZA BARRERA, Ellensburg High School, 3.003 GPA: "If we don’t try in life then we will never succeed. That is why I would like to graduate with good grades and continue my education by enrolling in a good college. I would like to become a nurse. I have had to work two jobs and also attend school. But even though I am very committed to school and my jobs, I struggle to get good grades. No matter how late I go to bed I always finish my homework.