Ana Pérez

       Education has always been my forte, as a young student I was fascinated and impelled to learn.  My parents always instilled in me the importance of education, they always stressed that an education would ensure a better life for my siblings and I.  I remember them saying that as long as I wasn’t working in the fields, would be sufficient.  My parents worked in the fields for about 15 years, some of those summers and weekends, my sister and I would accompany them.  Working hard and contributing to the family made me feel significant and has helped me develop my work ethic. 

       Along with my formal education in school, I learned at a young age the education of life.  I learned to be an interpreter, problem-solver, and money management skills, as I helped my parents with everyday activities.  I think my life as an eldest child and daughter of farm workers has shaped me into the person that I am.  I never thought of dropping out because I had that sense of obligation to my parents to finish high school.  I knew that a lot was riding on me, and didn’t want to let them down.  At this point, I am the first person ever in the history of my family (nuclear and extended on both sides of the border) to go to college. 

      College to me was also something I envisioned myself as accomplishing.  I thought about the wealth of ideas and was drawn by the freedom to learn everything I didn’t have a chance to do in high school.  I definitely felt a sense of urgency to go to college and knew the historical, social, and political implications that my attendance would signify.  I was also fortunate to receive scholarships that helped fund my studies at USF.  The Latino Scholarship, McNair Program, and other local scholarships helped my journey thorough college a more fulfilling one. 

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