Meet Jesus: Weeks Ten & Eleven

December 30, 2009 by The Immokalee Foundation to Our Work: Take Stock In Children, TIF Students: Jesus

Every summer, TIF watches students graduate high school and prepare for the next step in their education. For Jesus, that next step is college. This Take Stock in Children alum is currently a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University. (In his latest note to us, he wrote, “College is AMAZING! Things are going great for me! I love it!”)

Between graduating from Immokalee High School and beginning his freshman year of college, Jesus spent the summer with his family, who work as migrant farmhands — an occupation and lifestyle common among residents of Immokalee. Each day, Jesus took a minute or two to tell us about his summer experiences.

Sunday, August 9, 2009
1:35 p.m.

Whoa hoo! I just bought my plane ticket to fly home on the 19th of August! I’m flying home alone because my mom is going to stay up here longer to work. I have to be down for the 20th because I’m moving into my dorm that day. Wow! I’m so excited! In less than two weeks I’ll be experiencing my first year in college! Wow! That’s all I can say. I’m beyond excited! It’s going to be something completely new and different! Wow. I’m so speechless.

Monday, August 10, 2009
4:51 p.m.

Click. Click. Click. My fingers are keying in numbers in my computer. I’m creating spreadsheets for my dad to do his payroll. I’ve been awake since seven o’clock this morning. I’m in desperate need of a nap! Hopefully after all this paperwork is done I’ll find time to rest a little.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
12:34 p.m.

Rain! Rain! Sometimes rain becomes my best friend! Well it rained today which cut our work day short so I’ll probably head to the mall with my sister. I need to start buying my dorm supplies soon. I’ve never really decorated anything before, let alone a dorm room that I’ll be living in for a whole year. I’ve never been all that great at being creative. It’s a good thing I have my mom here to help me out with all this “interior design.”

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
2:42 p.m.

One week left! Man it’s coming up and I’m currently on my school’s website checking to make sure all my required forms and paperwork are in. I still haven’t purchased my meal plan nor my books, but I’m going to do all that once I’m down so I can visit the respective offices on campus to get that sorted out. It’s going to be so different, though — I’m just thinking about living in a dorm. I’ll have to wash my own clothes now! LOL. Not that it’s a problem, but I’ve grown up having it washed for me so that’s going to be a new responsibility. I think that college is so much more than simply receiving an education. It’s a step towards independence and the beginning of my future!

Thursday, August 13, 2009
4:41 p.m.

Money! Even as the start of school is quickly approaching I’m still filling out forms from FAFSA, which isn’t a problem at all because everyone loves free money! Today I was notified of receiving a grant and I had to send in a few things to receive the funds. I had to write a small essay, along with email a picture, and send in a form. They asked for verification that I’m a first generation college student, which really wasn’t hard to prove to the financial aid office. I mean my parents make well below the norm of middle class families.

Friday, August 14, 2009
9:43 a.m.

Man it’s so early! But today is pay day so I have to help my dad out. He has to pass out tons of checks to everyone that works here so I normally help him on pay days so it’s not so overwhelming for him. Today there was no work yet again so the day should be fairly short. Let’s hope so.

Saturday, August 15, 2009
9:54 p.m.

District 9! The previews had me eagerly anticipating this movie and I’m so stoked to watch it! It just came out in theaters yesterday too. Today we didn’t work, so I had the chance to come see if it’s as good as the previews make it seem. Wow! I only have four more days until I’m back home in Florida! My summer is quickly ending — it seems like just yesterday it was barely getting started.

Sunday, August 16, 2009
1:00 p.m.

These past few days there hasn’t been much work due to the rainy weather and the fact that the tomatoes need time to ripen, so there was no work today. I’m going to relax at home today and I should start packing. I’m leaving in a few short days and I want to have everything packed and ready. My flight on Wednesday departs from Knoxville, Tenn., at 7:00 a.m. and that means I have to get up really early.

Monday, August 17, 2009
11:41 a.m.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee! My family and I are currently heading to this tourism-based town and there’s so much to do there. It’s located up near the mountains and we didn’t work today so my dad thought it’d be good for us to spend the day together as a family. In Gatlinburg there are theme parks, street shops, tons of restaurants, magic shows, fun museums, local country singers, and so much more. One day wouldn’t be enough to span the whole town and enjoy it all. Our first stop today will be at an aquarium. I’ve never thought an aquarium might be all that interesting for someone my age, but who knows, I might actually enjoy myself.

[On Monday, August 24, Jesus began his first day as a college student at Florida Gulf Coast University. To date, he’s successfully completed the first semester of his freshman year. He tells us that he’s settled into college well. He’s made plenty of new friends, and while he finds his classes challenging, he does not feel overwhelmed. As one of The Immokalee Foundation’s Take Stock in Children graduates, he’ll continue to receive a full tuition waiver for his entire college career as long as he maintains the high academic and behavioral standards required of him. We look forward to many more great stories from Jesus.]

CHECK OUT WEEK ONE

CHECK OUT WEEK TWO

CHECK OUT WEEKS THREE & FOUR

CHECK OUT WEEK FIVE

CHECK OUT WEEKS SIX & SEVEN

CHECK OUT WEEKS EIGHT & NINE