From a little town in Mexico, and humble beginnings, he came,
As a kid working in migrant fields, he and his family would spend every six months of the year there.
Jose recalled what his Dad kept saying that if he didn’t do well in class,
He’d work the migrant fields all his life; and oh, what despair!
How does one get out of the migrant fields, you ask?
Jose knew the answer was by not getting detoured by life’s challenges, and tasks.
Through hard work and education, he calculated that this was the key
He just knew that in those California fields, that was not where he wanted to be.
Jose finally concluded that with good grades, the fields he could soon replace
With some sort of science and engineering career.
But when he heard about the first Hispanic American that had been selected to fly in space,
He got inspired to work for NASA, and knew he’d be an astronaut one day.
Recalling all his tired, dusty days of his youth, he yearned for knowledge.
He studied hard, made good grades, and eventually got a scholarship to college.
With his engineer degree, to NASA, He applied for 12 straight years,
When the day finally came when Jose was finally chosen to be an astronaut;
I bet he could hear the cheers among all his family and peers!
Jose Hernandez, Shuttle Discovery Astronaut/Engineer!
Jose – from one American of Mexican descent to another, you inspire and make me so proud of my Mexican heritage!
Robert Collazo, 10/6/09.
