The Similarities Between My Parents Martha And Eloy Zuniga

Education has always been a priority among my parents. It is something they want my brothers and I to continue doing because they didn’t have the opportunity to study and get an education. My parents Martha and Eloy Zuniga were born in Mexico in a small town named Acambaro, Guanajuato. In their early twenties, they crossed the border illegally to start a family and provide us a better living. They arrived in Salinas, California (that’s where I was born) and worked in the fields picking lettuce, cabbage, cilantro. This type of job was the only one available to them, since at that time they were illegal. From their stories and experiences I’ve learned that working in the field is no easy task, you have to endure long days that start at 4 am and don’t end until 7 pm. I recall my mom telling me that the first week working there was like living hell. They would come home with their backs and hands aching and at night they could not sleep because of a high fever. It was a tremendously hard job, in which I’m thankful they endured because if it wasn’t for all their hard work and sacrifices I would not have the opportunity that I have today; being a first generation college student. They’ve always encouraged me to be my best and give my all in everything I do.
However, my parents cannot support my education because they barely make enough to pay bills and food. My first job was working in a summer nutrition program when I was 14 going on 15. Ever since then I’ve been working to buy my own clothes, pay my car, phone and other necessities. I feel that by doing this it’s one less thing my parents have to worry about. Right now I am a full-time employee at Tranquility of Dalton. I’m working hard in order to pay my school expenses, even though I do receive financial aid and hope sometimes that’s not