First-generation student overcomes migrant challenges, prepares for college

A high school senior at Hillsboro High School credits her migrant background for shaping her into the determined individual she is today. The student, who is preparing to graduate, reflects on the challenges her family faced as migrant workers spending part of the year in Mexico and North Dakota. "If you asked me now— a senior at Hillsboro High School with graduation just around the corner—how being a migrant has affected my life, I’d tell you it made me into the woman I am today," she said.

Her parents prioritized education for their three daughters despite the instability of their migrant lifestyle. Her father worked long hours during the farming season, and her mother worked demanding shifts, with the aim of providing for their family. "In 2008 and 2009, my parents made the painful decision to leave me, just a year old at the time, in Mexico with family so they could work and provide for us," she recalled.

Growing up, she balanced working in the fields with educational programs such as the Manvel Public School Migrant Summer Program. "The work was hard, especially under the scorching sun, but I stayed motivated, knowing it would be worth it," she shared. Attending school in both Mexico and the United States presented its own challenges, as she had to switch languages frequently.

High school posed further academic hurdles due to her migratory background. "That’s when I discovered the PASS program, which has helped many migrant students like me stay on track and reach graduation," she said. The Portable Assisted Study Sequence (PASS) allowed her to earn high school credits at her own pace. Through the program, she caught up and even surpassed her classmates.

Now on the brink of graduation, she holds a 3.7 GPA and ranks in the top 10 of her class. She has been awarded an $11,000 scholarship to the University of North Dakota to study business marketing and a $2,000 PASS scholarship. However, the costs associated with college remain a concern for her family, who are seasonal workers. Despite this, they have always encouraged her to set high aspirations.

Reflecting on her journey, she feels gratitude for her parents' sacrifices and the lessons she learned through her experiences. "My parents’ labor in the fields planted the seeds of determination in me," she noted. As she prepares for college, she is motivated to honor her family's efforts. "Now, as a senior preparing for college, I’m motivated to make my family—and myself—proud," she concluded.