TrieuVy Le
CHLS 104S
Instructor Ramirez
Portfolio Essay 1
20 October, 2015
Road to Success
How did an immigrant with no English and no money overcome the odds and pursue his career at the highest level, top rated universities Berkeley, Harvard, and San Francisco Medical School? Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa proved that hopping a fence worth its price of fame and recognition. Quiñones is simply just a human being who chose to believe in the capacity of the people. It is all about the effort you put in to overcome hardship, to believe in what your heart desires, and not to allow your hopes to be co-opted by mediocrity. “Terra Firma—A Journey from Migrant Farm Labor to Neurosurgery” is Dr. Quiñones’ personal story of growing up in Mexico, migrating …show more content…
Despite the fact that he was caught in the first attempt and deported back to Mexico, the fear was still not enough forcing him to give up. The young man went back and tried the same maneuver fast paced and was nearly impossible to get caught. The light lit up at the end of the tunnel as his uncle Fausto assisted him back to the same field in San Joaquin Valley pulling weeds, picking fruits and vegetables. The American dream never died in him, with the commitment, determination and dedication he stuck with the low paid salary of $3.35 an hour. The forces of exploitation for cheap labor with low paid salary he faced throughout his college years, farm companies can pay their workers below minimum wage and because of that they took advantage of Quiñones’ physical strength in exchange with less than $4.00 worth of salary per hour. His very first job as a welder for a railroad company caused him to reevaluate his life after losing consciousness falling into a tank car used to carry liquefied petroleum gas. Being a migrant farmer, Quiñones had to work in dangerous working environment. Alfredo started to realize the importance of society; he was consistently learning, working during daylight and studying during night time to chase his American Dream. “You will spend the rest of your life working in the fields,”(1) the statement his cousin made, Alfredo was determined to prove him and anyone who has doubts that he will never escape the life of poverty. Even as a kid, he dreamt big no matter what the challenges are going to be he never gave up. Now as a man, not only he became it but he is also encouraging others to realize their dreams. Working at night allowed him to attend at San Joaquin community college where he could learn English. With the unsupportive group of people such as professors, tutors or classmates’ denial in helping to improve his English, the
CHLS 104S
Instructor Ramirez
Portfolio Essay 1
20 October, 2015
Road to Success
How did an immigrant with no English and no money overcome the odds and pursue his career at the highest level, top rated universities Berkeley, Harvard, and San Francisco Medical School? Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa proved that hopping a fence worth its price of fame and recognition. Quiñones is simply just a human being who chose to believe in the capacity of the people. It is all about the effort you put in to overcome hardship, to believe in what your heart desires, and not to allow your hopes to be co-opted by mediocrity. “Terra Firma—A Journey from Migrant Farm Labor to Neurosurgery” is Dr. Quiñones’ personal story of growing up in Mexico, migrating …show more content…
Despite the fact that he was caught in the first attempt and deported back to Mexico, the fear was still not enough forcing him to give up. The young man went back and tried the same maneuver fast paced and was nearly impossible to get caught. The light lit up at the end of the tunnel as his uncle Fausto assisted him back to the same field in San Joaquin Valley pulling weeds, picking fruits and vegetables. The American dream never died in him, with the commitment, determination and dedication he stuck with the low paid salary of $3.35 an hour. The forces of exploitation for cheap labor with low paid salary he faced throughout his college years, farm companies can pay their workers below minimum wage and because of that they took advantage of Quiñones’ physical strength in exchange with less than $4.00 worth of salary per hour. His very first job as a welder for a railroad company caused him to reevaluate his life after losing consciousness falling into a tank car used to carry liquefied petroleum gas. Being a migrant farmer, Quiñones had to work in dangerous working environment. Alfredo started to realize the importance of society; he was consistently learning, working during daylight and studying during night time to chase his American Dream. “You will spend the rest of your life working in the fields,”(1) the statement his cousin made, Alfredo was determined to prove him and anyone who has doubts that he will never escape the life of poverty. Even as a kid, he dreamt big no matter what the challenges are going to be he never gave up. Now as a man, not only he became it but he is also encouraging others to realize their dreams. Working at night allowed him to attend at San Joaquin community college where he could learn English. With the unsupportive group of people such as professors, tutors or classmates’ denial in helping to improve his English, the