Published in the April 26 – May 9, 2017 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Hidelisa Murillo
Hilderisa Murillo
Growing up, I was always persuaded by my parents to go to college. It has always been an option for me to go — a strongly encouraged option. I thought it was something all parents told their children.
All the adults I have been surrounded with — family friends, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and teachers — emphasized the importance of going to a university and seeking a career of my interest.
My peers also thought in a similar way, so I never thought anything different. I am going to college, my friends are going to college, we are all going to college.
I am going to take advantage of the opportunity that was not granted to my parents because of lack of support and financial ability.
For many of my friends this is the same story they hear from their parents. Their parents, just like mine, came from a hard background of physical labor with little pay and the belief that college was not even an option to be considered.
However, because of them we know that story will not be our own. We are encouraged to learn from their mistakes and take their words of wisdom with us and implement them into our everyday life.
To our parents going further in life and pursuing a career was nothing more than a dream, but their dream will become our reality.
I remember one day when I was over at a friend’s house, her parents asked me what I wanted to do after high school — they had always stressed the importance of going to college. Within seconds, I gave them a response that took them by surprise.
I knew exactly what I wanted to do as a career and in all honesty it is thanks to my high school teachers, my parents, and an uncle of mine. In high school, from day one my teachers began to prepare me for college. They encouraged me to research careers, universities, majors, and scholarships in efforts to help me find my path.
In many ways my parents and uncle were my inspiration to seek a career in medicine and for that I am forever thankful.
I know I am capable, just as any other individual, to go places where others from my background thought impossible. Taking responsibility by taking college level courses, along with my high school ones, is the first of many steps I have taken to pursue a career in medicine.
The credit for this is not all my own. My parents, my family, and the adults around me are credited for giving me the inspiration and encouragement necessary for me to aspire to be the best individual I can be.
Hildelisa Murillo is a 17-year-old senior at the Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy. In her spare time she enjoys reading, baking and painting.
