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Coachella Middle School student wins national essay prize
 She knew it would be hard working in the fields, but Yoseline Angulo Nunez saw it as a way to earn money for her family. Her father, however, saw something different -- an opportunity to encourage his daughter to work hard in school.
Yoseline, an eighth-grader in the Coachella Valley Unified School District, turned her learning experience into an essay that won a national prize in September from the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP).
She was awarded first place in the 2008 Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Childrens’ Essay Contest. Yoseline traveled to the National AFOP Conference in Washington D.C. to read her essay and claim her prize. She was accompanied by Estella Palacio, Principal of Cahuilla Desert Academy.
Her essay explains that Yoseline is proud of her father’s hard work. “I could see his tired eyes, and the many scars he had in his hands by his features I could tell that it wasn't going to be easy.”
Her father was proud that she wanted to work hard, but he wanted her to work hard in school. “On the way home my dad said that he was proud of me because I did my best but that this was an experience that I had to learn from. That’s why I have to do my best in school in order to excel in the future and not to spend my life working in the fields.”
Yoseline enjoyed her trip to Washington D.C., staying at a Hilton, and her chance to read her essay at the national conference. “I was excited to be at the conference,” said Yoseline, now an 8th grader at Bobby Duke Middle School. “It was cool.”
Her complete essay is below:
My experiences working in the fields
By Yoseline Angulo Nunez
Have you ever worked in the fields? I didn't know what a day like working in the fields was, until I had a real life experience. It was a day full of anxiety, exhaustion and high temperatures.
“Yoseline. Get ready. You are going to work tomorrow". This is what my dad told me after he had spoken to my mom about me going to work. I couldn't believe what I heard after all those countless days that I asked my mom if I could go to work with my dad.
I was so anxious because finally I was going to earn money that summer, to buy school supplies and clothing for the coming year. My dad strongly disagreed about me going to work to the fields. He said that the bell pepper season was a very hard labor because we had to be leaning down every time we had to pick the bell peppers.
I could see his tired eyes, and the many scars he had in his hands by his features I could tell that it wasn't going to be easy. Still I was anxious to go to work.
In the morning I heard my mom calling me from the kitchen where she was cooking for my dad and I. I could smell the aroma of the handmade tortillas and beans with chorizo. I could barely open my eyes, I saw the time in the alarm clock it was three in the morning I looked out the window it was still dark outside. I got up and by the side of my bed there was a pair of socks, old Levis jeans an undershirt and a long sleeved shirt.
I got ready and ate cereal my dad handed me a hat and got the bag were the food was. As we headed outside my mom said goodbye and told me to take care. I was so excited that I couldn't wait to get there. When we got there I saw a lot of people, many had their face covered with handkerchiefs. We started to work my dad gave a bucket and he told me that I had to pick the green peppers only and to place them in the bucket.
When the bucket was full I had to carry it in my shoulder and take it where a group of people where packing the bell peppers in boxes. As the time passed by the temperature began to rise and I felt weaker. I looked around and the people seemed completely normal but they were soaked in sweat.
My dad was beside me and told me "you are doing great we are almost going to lunch. His motivating words gave me the strength to keep working. When we went to lunch we ate then we had to go to work again. I almost dragged myself back to the field I was exhausted I never imagined that it was going to be so hard, exhausting, and hot.
There were constant sweat drops sliding from my face the day seemed like it was never going to end until the foreman said that it was time to go home I couldn’t believe that I made it through that rough day.
On the way home my dad said that he was proud of me because I did my best but that this was an experience that I had to learn from. That’s why I have to do my best in school in order to excel in the future and not to spend my life working in the fields.
Based on my experience I didn't know how it was like to work a day in the field. To my surprise everything that I thought and felt the day before going to work, It will no longer be the same. The anxiety I felt for being the first time to go to work was uncontainable. I will never forget how it was to work in the hot temperatures and the constant sweat running down my face. This is what a day is like working in the fields.
For information contact:
Rick Peoples,
Public Information Officer
Telephone: (951) 826-6642
Fax: (951) 826-6199
rpeoples@rcoe.us
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