Selected interview transcript

This interview transcript has been modified for clarity and conciseness.

Esta entrevista fue conducida en inglés. Para leer versión en español de las preguntas y respuestas, haga click aquí.

What brought you to the San Joaquin Valley?

I was born in San Joaquin Valley. I was born in Reedley, raised in Selma, California. Then moved to Visalia, I have been here since I was 15. I have lived in the Visalia-Goshen area ever since.

You said you were born in Reedley, then moved to Selma and then to Visalia. What caused these moves?

My parents lived in Selma, they migrated from Oaxaca. My dad in the 80s and my mom in the 90s. They settled in Selma. They lived between Selma, Parlier, and Reedley. So, when I was born the closest hospital was Reedley at that time. That is why I was born in Reedley. But I was basically raised in Selma my whole life. I grew up along grape vineyards. That is what I saw every day, and I loved the country aspect. I liked that kind of agriculture; it is very peaceful and calming. I think I appreciate it more now. I remember my parents picking up grapes during the summer or purring them during the winter. 

After 15 years my dad decided to purchase a home in Goshen, and that is what brought me here. I did High School here. All the main schools are in Visalia, so I went to High School there. There is an elementary school here in Goshen, but for Middle and High School you need to go to Visalia. 

Can you tell me what would you do in your free time as a kid? Who do you play with? Where did you hang out? 

I would be outside jumping on tractors, running trough vineyards, playing in the dirt, making mud pies. That is something I would do every day, specially in the summer. It was a nice area where I grew up, I had a neighbor, and we get along and we played out there without worries. Parents would yell your name, so I would know it was time to come back. It was really nice, and I have very nice memories. 

Do you think that your quality of life and circumstances have improve over the last 10 years?

I have improved. Ten years ago, I was starting High School. After graduating High School, I went to medical assistant school, and worked as a surgical tech. I was the doctor’s first assistant in surgery. I have been doing that for the last 12 years. Through that career I have completed a lot of courses in my local college. 

I wanted to keep going because I didn’t finish my nurse degree. So recently I was accepted in to nursing school and now I am working on my license. I have come a long way and I am not done. After I am done with this course I want to continue because I want to provide a good life for my child. 

Do you think that agriculture has have an important part in your life? Or has it impacted your life? 

Healthwise, I recently was diagnosed with Valley Fever. We are prone to it in the valley area. It took me by surprise because I didn’t know I had it until I started having certain symptoms. I was told that we are exposed to it, and the doctor said it is likely I had it young and that I had an episode just now. That is the only thing that has affected me personally. 

We are going to play a scenario in which you are an elected official, the Mayor of Goshen or in the County Board of Supervisors. You have unlimited power to make any change you want in your community, what would your three top priorities be? 

I think Goshen has potential but the way that I have seen it, the appearance, the undone lawns, makes it unappealing. There is a street that you only see death grass, I don’t understand why people don’t water it, or take it down and put something else. They should pave the whole thing and place some nicer plants. Or if they want to keep the grass then they should water it. We want to see the greenery, trees for shades. Some residents don’t like to do their lawn, and that doesn’t look nice. There are some houses that do have nice lawns, but there are houses with a lot of trash out. I don’t know, I would add more regulations to make the community nicer. If we make our homes nicer, it will look more appealing. 

I know they are building the travel center, and other things around Goshen. It is going to be busy. I noticed just now as I was dropping my kid to school that Elfie Dr was very busy, it was not normal. There were a lot of trucks coming in, there is a truck station over there so a lot of them are coming and there is a lot of truck tourism. If they were to build homes, which I think they are, maybe that community would be nicer. Maybe they should build a Shopping Center, so I won’t have to go all the way to Visalia. We do have a Dollar Store, many people used to go there. They bought milk or bread instead of going to Savemart.