About

t. zuniga - 2nd place (essay 14-18)

Farrnwork to Powerful Futures

Working in the fields has shaped my dreams by showing me the life I do not want
forever. Spending long hours under the scorching sun and ending the day exhausted made me
realize how difficult farm work truly is. With my allergies and asthma, working in those harsh
conditions has been even more challenging for me. There were days when my body felt weak,
my feet hurt, and all I wanted was to rest, yet I still had to keep going. Those experiences made
me dream of a future where I can work hard without sacrificing my health and happiness.

My family and I have made many sacrifices throughout our lives as farmworkers. We
have spent time away from family, entered school late, moved from place to place, and adapted
to different crops. Although these sacrifices may not seem huge to others, they taught me to
value education, stability, family, and every opportunity I am given. Watching my parents work
endlessly, even when they were tired, made me realize how much love and sacrifice exists in our
family.

The future I hope to create for myself is one where I can help others and make my family
proud. I want to become an EMT because I want to help people during some of the hardest
moments of their lives. EMTs save lives, comfort people during emergencies, and give hope to
families when they need it most. Becoming an EMT would show how far I have come from the
fields and prove that all the struggles and sacrifices were worth it.

People often misunderstand the lives of farmworker children. Many assume that only the
parents work in the fields, but children like me also work while balancing school and
responsibilities at home. We sacrifice our free time and rest to help support our families
financially. Others may not see the emotional and physical exhaustion that comes with trying to
succeed in school while carrying the responsibilities of an adult.

One challenge people may not notice is how often I put myself aside in order to keep
working. No matter how tired, sick, or overwhelmed I feel, I continue pushing through because I
know my family depends on it. Managing schoolwork, responsibilities, and physical labor at the
same time can become mentally and emotionally draining.

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I want my future to be known for thriving. I do not want my story to end with struggle; I
want it to become a story of growth, resilience, and success. I want people to see that even
though I started in the fields, I used those experiences as motivation to create something greater
for myself. The challenges children face today can grow into meaningful dreams, and I want my
future to be proof that hard times do not define a person's ending.