In this episode of TecoGuide’s Transfer Basics Series, Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra shares how he went from a tiny village in Michoacán, to the farm fields of California, to an engineering degree, to drafting the California Dream Act, and finally to City Hall. Roots in Michoacán: Where the Journey Begins Eric’s story doesn’t start in a classroom. It starts in a small Purépecha village in the mountains of Michoacán, in a town called Jeráguaro. He remembers: - Cobblestone streets, burros pulling carts full of corn, his grandmother boiling corn at night (nixtamal) and walking to the mill in the morning to grind it into masa, fresh tortillas cooked on wood stoves, and the nearby mountain range where millions of monarch butterflies migrate each year This world was beautiful—but also deeply tied to agricultural survival. When the Mexican economy collapsed and famine hit, Eric’s family made the difficult choice many families make: they came to the United States. His father had a green card. His mother didn’t. She had to cross the border with a coyote, while Eric and his younger brother rode hidden in the back of a van. “We came to work. We came to help this country get to that next level.” Farm Work, Esparto, and the Reality of Survival The family eventually settled in Esparto, a small agricultural town in Northern California. They worked in: Orchards, Tomatoes, &Pears and peaches Farm work was what they knew. It was how they survived. Eric’s experience, like many first-gen and immigrant kids, was shaped by Long hours in the fields, Early mornings and hard physical labor, and Watching his parents push themselves just to keep the family afloat Those early years planted a seed: struggle and survival would be a constant theme—but so would resilience. Feeling Lost: Skipping Class and Being “Found” by CAMP Like many first-gen students, Eric hit a point where college felt overwhelming. He tuned out. He started skipping class. One day, he wandered into a conference room full of the “good kids” and college counselors. He crashed the meeting, joked around, and was promptly sent to the vice principal’s office. But something important happened: A counselor from Sac State’s College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) noticed him. They didn’t have to, but they asked: “Who was that kid?” When they dug deeper, they learned that Eric was: A seasonal farmworker, Academically capable, and Eligible for both the minority engineering program and CAMP. Eric could have said no. Instead, he took a chance: “Let me give it a shot.” That decision changed everything. White-Knuckle Drive to Sac State: Walking Into a New World Eric had never driven alone to Sacramento. He still remembers gripping the steering wheel, white-knuckled, driving on I-5 and navigating the freeway interchanges to get to Sac State. When he arrived, CAMP did something powerful: It put professionals who looked like him right in front of him. One of them was Gustavo Reynoso, a Sac State engineering grad working at Caltrans—and also an artist with his own gallery. Eric’s first reaction? “Who is this vato and why is he here?” Then Gustavo explained that you don’t have to be just one thing. “You don’t have to be who people tell you you are. You get to choose who you are.” That idea blew open Eric’s world: You can be an engineer and an artist and you can be from the fields and still belong in boardrooms. You can be Latino, first-gen, immigrant—and be a professional and a leader. Money Pressure: Working Hard vs. Working Smart Money is the number one reason many students drop out. Eric didn’t have a college fund. No “here’s your tuition” envelope waiting for him. His early strategy? Work. A lot. He: Worked as a janitor at night, Stayed on the job until 3:30 a.m., and Started out working off campus, which required a car That car created a trap: Car payment, Gas, Maintenance, and Insurance At one point he realized: “I’m working to pay for the car, not for my education.” That’s when he shifted: Got an on-campus job and Cut costs that weren’t moving him toward his degree Started thinking in terms of working smarter Scholarships as $500/Hour Work One of Eric’s classmates changed his perspective forever. This classmate: Was on academic probation, Was about to be kicked out and, Was also a teen dad He found a scholarship application, wrote honestly about his life, and spent 1–2 hours on it. He got a $1,000 scholarship. Then he did the math: 2 hours = $1,000 = That’s $500/hour. So he quit his fast food job and focused that time on: - Finding more scholarships - Applying strategically - Buying back more time for his child and his classes That story led Eric to a big point for students: Treat scholarship applications and support programs as high-value uses of your time. A 20–30 minute application could mean: Free textbooks ($600–$700), A grant, A stipend or Emergency aid. That is real money for relatively little time. #TecoGuide, the only app designed to help you navigate your college and career journey in the quickest and most affordable way. Brought to you by #EdTechQuity, we are committed to opening doors to higher education and career opportunities for all. Thank you for tuning into #TecoGuide, the app dedicated to providing valuable insights on education and career success. Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, and share. 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