In Michoacán, Mexico, Esteban Carranza started his education in a two-room school. His world was completely different from the one he found in Wilmington, California, when he came to the U.S. at 11 years old.
In Mexico he tended to his uncle’s plot, looked after cows when his grandfather was sick and received food — not cash — for any work. His drive for soccer might be the only part of his childhood Esteban and kids in Wilmington would have had in common.
Despite the difference in the U.S., Esteban never stopped pursuing the education his father and family continually told him would be a catalyst for success. With the support of his family, ShareFest and the Wilmington community, Esteban has overcome any hindrance and is starting his second year at the University of California San Diego — a college larger than the 100-house hometown.
The sophomore math major’s life has been indelibly changed by coming to Wilmington, in some good ways and some negative ways. The city was an intimidating factor for Esteban when he started middle school, but by eighth grade, he rose to the top of his class. And after working through high school at Banning, Esteban was set to start college.
Days before Esteban was headed to UC San Diego for his first semester, his laptop was stolen the same week he bought it. A bag full of electronic, already packed to move into his dorm, was taken from his house. But — rallied by ShareFest — the Wilmington and wider community stood up to counteract the crime committed against Esteban and fight the negative image of Wilmington that type of act creates.
“ShareFest provided me with a new laptop and with all the equipment I would need for it plus a new way to look at life,” Esteban said.
Esteban poses with Pilar Hoyos, Vice President of Public Affairs at Watson Land Company. Watson Land Company along with other businesses and private donors helped provide Esteban with replacement items for ones stolen from his home. The computer helped Esteban earn a 3.0 GPA during his first year at UCSD.
At first, a call for help came from Esteban’s uncle. He told Rubin Harsoyo, the L.A. City Neighborhood Prosecutor for Wilmington, what had happened. Rubin, assigned to prosecute criminals from the neighborhood, had seen the work ShareFest did in the Cruces neighborhood in Wilmington, fighting gang activity by giving productive outlets and a new perspective to the youth and families there, so, naturally, Rubin’s next call was to ShareFest.
Within days, before leaving for college, Esteban received a new laptop and calculator funded by donors coordinated by ShareFest.
It was Esteban’s introduction to ShareFest and its commitment to creating caring communities and connecting with children and families.
“Sharefest has done that with my family and me. I will never forget what ShareFest and the Community of Wilmington did for me,” Esteban said.
He said that support, mental, emotional and tangible, has kept him motivated, allowed him to bypass the traffic jam of students vying for school electronics and helped him complete his first year with a 3.0 GPA.
“My first year at the University of California San Diego has been the best experience of my life,” Esteban said.
Esteban has begun his second year at college, and he’s not about to stop. He wants to leave his impact, like the community and ShareFest already have on him.
“I don’t want to work in a fast food restaurant for the rest of my life. I will not give my chance to study for anything in the world because knowledge allows us to have a broader perspective of the world. And with a broader perspective we can help more people not just a small community,” he said. “I have come so far and I will not stop now.”
