by Karla Itzel Molina

Since he was small, Miguel Segura knew what having to work hard to progress in life meant. He saw and experienced what it meant to live in poverty, but used that as his motivation to work hard in life to make a change in his future and that of his family later in his life. During his childhood in the 1960’s, Segura and his three siblings at the time, lived in Jalisco, Mexico with other relatives and family friends while his parents traveled constantly across the border to the United States under the Bracero Program. Although at the time he felt the emotional hardship of having to separate form his parents constantly, he learned the meaning of working hard to maintain someone’s family through the hardships his parents faced under the Bracero Program.

However, at the age of thirteen, Segura along with his siblings migrated to the United States to rejoin his parents in the state of California. His family traveled constantly depending on the agricultural seasons and the work available in the fields. After some time, his family permanently resided in Los Angeles, California where Segura went to school and also looked for several jobs as a student to help his family economically. At the age of fourteen Segura obtained a work permit through his high school and worked as a sweeper/cleaner for a contractor’s clothing factory. Part of his duties included sweeping, cleaning the factory machines, throwing the trash. He acquired other part-time jobs, but it was his schooling that influenced him in what we wanted to do in the long run.

Segura did not only value hard work at his jobs, but also in school. During the 1960s and 1970s, there was still segregation in schools and violence in his neighborhood as a consequence of such tensions. Despite the pressures to leave school, Segura always has a strong inclination toward school and progressing through the education he received. Part of this was instilled by his parents who would advocate for him to go to school and also by his teachers who were very encouraging. From among the various programs in his high school, Segura enjoyed carpentry and appreciated the help his teacher gave him throughout the program. This became the base for his interest in carpentry, which has led to his current and long-time job now in carpentry and additional skill sets as well. Segura works for a company that operates in several building taking care of the maintenance whether it is carpentry, plumbing, painting, etc. Through the years at his job Segura has become close to his bosses who have come to appreciate and treat him and his co-workers like family. This is due to their good employer-employee rapport and to their hard work and constant efforts to always do a good job in whatever task they are assigned.

Segura’s ideals on hard work and progress have not only influenced his schooling and occupation, but also the way he has raised his family. Along with his wife, they both raised four children, two daughters and two sons. Segura always taught them the value of hard work and getting an education. Currently, they are all in college but one who already graduated with a degree in chemistry with a focus on criminology. For Segura, his view on work, whether it be academic or in a job setting, has been his way to progress in his life doing what he enjoys. Furthermore, he has instilled it in his kids who demonstrate it in their lives through their pursue of an education and hard work in order to get there and reach their life goals.

Pienso que como todo padre pues queremos siempre lo mejor para sus hijos y pues nos esforzamos veces un poquito más de lo debido pero por sacar a la familia adelante. Y te enfocas y eso siempre sirve uno de padre para que los hijos [carro manejando] tengan menos problemas mientras están de la niñez a la adolescencia y de la adolescencia a se adulto. [Aclara la garganta] Siempre influye que l padre pues este disciplinado y tenga su trabajo y los saque adelante.