From Picking Tomatoes to Picking Majors

In this Transfer Basics Series feature, Jose Vallejo shares his emotional journey from a tomato-picking childhood to becoming a respected community college counselor. With raw honesty, Jose reveals the struggles of being a first-gen student, the power of finding your “why,” and how building relationships on campus changed everything.

Whether you’re unsure of your major or seeking inspiration, this story proves you already have what it takes.

Jose’s story highlights: The value of academic exploration, the impact of cultural identity and Chicano studies, the importance of mentorship and student engagement, and how purpose fuels persistence and lifelong success.

Jose grew up in Los Angeles and later Sacramento, where his parents moved in search of better work opportunities in agriculture. He vividly recalls the image of his parents and older siblings coming home from the fields, covered in dust, drenched in sweat, and smelling like tomatoes.

These moments shaped his early understanding of sacrifice and labor. As a child, he didn’t know what career he wanted, but he knew with certainty what he didn’t want, to toil in the fields like his parents. Their hard work lit a fire within him to pursue something different, even if he wasn’t sure yet what that would be.

His message for students, educators, and institutional leaders: Believe in yourself, ask for help, and never stop pushing toward your goals.

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