FMPAC Scholarship Recipient

Yessenia Ruiz

March 30, 2011

Yesenia Ruiz grew up learning the harder side of life. Her life as a migrant child since arriving from Mexico involved moving from Florida to Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee to follow the harvest seasons in each state. Yesenia worked alongside her family in the fields picking crops. Traveling to each state often meant sleeping in a cramped truck or a small mobile trailer since at times they could not afford a motel. It was especially difficult without a command of the English language. However, her parents always made the financial sacrifice for her family to always return to Immokalee in time for the first day of school.

Yesenia was determined to better herself and not be forced to follow in the footsteps that her parents were compelled to live. She was quick to take advantage of many opportunities in high school by getting involved in clubs such as Executive Board, Student Government, International Club, Renaissance Club and CROP (College Reach out Program). Yesenia was also selected to participate in the Close Up Program for New Americans in Washington, D.C. She volunteered with the local soup kitchen as well as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, encouraging fifth grade students to become involved in serving their community and combat every barrier to achieve success. Helping both in the community as well as at school taught Yesenia how to cooperate with others to accomplish personal and team goals.

Thanks to all of her parents' sacrifices as well as her hard work, she was the first in her family to graduate from high school. Ms. Ruiz was awarded a scholarship to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and major in Agricultural Business. Her goal in life is to graduate from college and have her own business where she can distribute healthy fruits and vegetables around the country. Once she completes higher education, she plans to go back to her community to offer scholarships, and to open her business to create many jobs. Yesenia's ultimate goal in life is to get her parents out of the fields, as well as, to reward them for all their sacrifices they have suffered in order for her to become successful.