My Head Start success story

As the nation celebrates Head Start’s 50th anniversary this year, I want to share my own Head Start success story.

My mother and father were farm workers who spent long days in the fields, traveling back and forth between Firebaugh and Arizona to ensure they could put food on the table. My parents didn’t have time to read to me, or practice ABCs, or play games – nor did they know how important those things were to my early development. For me, Head Start was the only chance I had for early learning.

I benefited from Head Start’s embrace of a host of influences that affect a child, from early education to health, dental care and nutrition. Head Start not only taught me my ABCs, but provided the opportunity to explore ideas and dream up stories.

The foundation laid by Head Start helped put me on the path to be the first in my family to graduate from college. I carried lessons learned in Head Start throughout my career – working in government, serving in the Peace Corps and today working in the nonprofit and advocacy sector.

I feel lucky to have had a head start in life. Here’s to 50 more years of opportunity.

This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 10:15 AM with the headline "My Head Start success story."