translated from Spanish: University of Mexican Origin takes photos of graduation in the field where their parents work, in the United States

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United States.-Erica Alfaro says she never forgot the advice her mom gave her when the two worked long hours together in the tomato fields of Central California Valley. “One day I told my mom I was very tired and she said to me, ‘ That’s how life will be from now on. The only people who don’t have to go through this have an education. ‘ Those words stayed with me, “said Alfaro, 29, to CNN on Saturday. These wise words inspired Alfaro, who left high school when he became pregnant at age 15, to return to education.
On May 19, Alfaro graduated from San Diego State University with a master’s degree in education, specializing in counseling. He decided to honor his parents in his graduation photos, standing with his toga and dressing up with them, wearing work clothes, in the middle of the fruit fields where his mother still works.
 
“With love, I dedicate my mastery to my parents. His sacrifice to come to this country to give us a better future was worth it, “said Alfaro when he shared his graduation photos on his Facebook and Instagram accounts this month.
Alfaro said his parents are farmers who could never go to school. His mother, Teresa Herrera, aged 51, and her father, Claudio Alfaro, of 50, are from Oaxaca, Mexico, and speak Mixteco, an indigenous language. Both emigrated to the United States separately and met later.
Erica Alfaro was born in Fresno, California, but grew up in Tijuana when her parents returned to Mexico for her mother to obtain residency in the U.S. During his time in Tijuana, Alfaro crossed the border every day to go to school. When she was 13, the family moved to Oceanside, California, along with another family and 11 people shared a one-bedroom apartment.
Alfaro said that she, her brother and sister used to work with their parents in the fruit fields during their summer vacation, Erica credits her mother’s advice on education as her inspiration for returning to school. At age 17, he enrolled in a home school education program in Fresno.
She was accepted at California State University in San Marcos, but during her first semester in 2012, her son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Alfaro’s qualifications suffered, but she went on, determined to give her and her son a better life, the life that her parents worked hard to give her. “It took me almost six years to get my degree,” said Alfaro.
Erica graduated from college in psychology at 2017. She was selected to be a speaker at the graduation ceremony. “The reason I share my story is because I want to encourage undocumented single mothers, and people who suffer domestic violence, to get an education and reach their goals,” Alfaro said.
 
He said he hopes that posting his graduation photos in the fruit fields inspire others in the Latino community who face similar hardships. “These pictures represent many of us,” he said. “Our parents came to this country to give us a better life and we wouldn’t be here without them.”
Erica Alfaro said her main goal now is to be a school counselor. He said he hopes to encourage students with little representation to continue their education. He also wants to work with victims of domestic violence and adolescent mothers.
 
Source: CNN en Español
 

Original source in Spanish