Dinora Diaz and the rest of the Class of 2022 have had a high school experience like no other. Shutdowns from COVID-19 interrupted their regular classroom activities in 2020, and forced them to attend virtually throughout 2021. This young scholar, however, refused to let anything get in her way and found resources within the Riverside County Office of Education’s Migrant Education Program to help her achieve her goals.
"I never want to be stuck in one place, and thanks to the Migrant Education program, I gained the confidence I needed to move forward," Dinora said.![Meet the Class of 2022 Dinora](/home/showpublishedimage/8264/637908066706800000)
Dinora was born in the United States in 2004 but raised in Mexico City until the age of seven. Her parents took advantage of an opportunity to bring Dinora, her twin brother, and two older sisters back to the United States in search of work and a better life.
Her earliest experiences with schools in the United States were difficult as she was never anywhere long enough to make connections. Dinora’s parents worked hard for the family which also meant a lot of moving around within Coachella Valley Unified School District.
She started in second grade at Oasis Elementary, then changed to Valley View Elementary, and then moved again to Coral Mountain Elementary School. This lack of continuity in her educational experience delayed Dinora's ability to develop a strong grasp of the English language.
"I always felt embarrassed to ask questions or seem like I needed too much help," Dinora said.
Dinora was enrolled in the Migrant Education Program at an early age, but never really understood why, or what help they offered. It wasn't until middle school and a science field trip to Catalina Island sponsored by Migrant Education Program, that Dinora really discovered all the resources and opportunities the program had to offer.
"I remember thinking, ‘Wait a minute, this has been here all along? All these years?’," Dinora said.
Students are eligible for the Riverside County Migrant Education Program if the parent or guardian is a migratory worker in the agricultural, dairy, lumber, or fishing industries. It is a federally-funded program designed to provide supplementary education and support services to identified migrant students.
Supplemental education services such as the sponsored Catalina trip, gave Dinora the confidence she lacked in asking for the help she needed in order to enhance her educational experience. Beyond her educational experience, she enjoyed an improved personal perspective as well.![Dinora Diaz](/home/showpublishedimage/8254/637907191577930000)
"I have two major passions: being involved with my community and sports," Dinora said.
Already a black belt in Taekwondo, Dinora looked to the Migrant Education Program to expand upon her desire to help the community.
"Migrant Education helped me attain an internship with OneFuture Coachella Valley which was collaborating with No Kid Hungry and CalFresh," Dinora shared.
No Kid Hungry is a national organization that helps to combat problems of hunger and poverty in the United States.
"I helped No Kid Hungry by making flyers about the program and visiting different parts of my community to share the resources available to people in need," Dinora said.
Dinora's favorite part of the Migrant Education Program was the opportunity to hear different motivational speakers.
"There have been so many wonderful speakers I've heard over the years,” Dinora said. “Every time I hear a new speaker, I pick up on new ways of thinking about things, and that gets me excited to keep moving forward."
Now a champion for the hard work being done by the Migrant Education Program, Dinora expresses a desire for others to follow in her footsteps.
"I'm always trying to motivate other students by encouraging them to take advantage of the Migrant Education Program,” Dinora said. “There is so much I missed out of fear and not asking questions at first, and this program helped me get out of my comfort zone and move forward."
Now a Class of 2022 graduate, Dinora will follow in her sisters' footsteps as she heads to college.
"One of my sisters graduated from CSU San Marcos and my other sister is currently attending, "she proudly explained, "I was accepted to every college I applied, but have chosen to go to UC Irvine and study public health. I want to be a nurse and help everyone I can."