By: Melissa, 2026-27 Levante Scholar
My name is Melissa Hernandez Rojas and this name is much more than a string of letters. My name encompasses all my past, present, and future versions. It carries the experiences and narratives my ancestors once had; a beautiful, intricate collection of the living and unliving. I come from a small, rural town called Faison in the outskirts of Sampson County. I grew up surrounded by the never-ending fields and constant chatter of machinery this beautiful landscape I call home has to offer.
Although I grew up alongside the various plants and vegetables, I never found a calling to it. Rather, I grew up into someone who enjoyed learning about people–the different perspectives we all have to offer, our personal narratives that speak of joy and suffering, and our unceasing love for all that is known and unknown. With me I carry all the values my community has taught me; resilience, compassion, and ambition. It is with these that allowed me to chase an education outside of what I had always known and leave my friends and family behind with a two-hour drive between us. I have been able to challenge myself tremendously with a new environment and rigorous coursework. But even then, even being far away from the countryside, the city could never make me forget where I came from. And that is where I found SAF.
Prior to this, I had never heard of an organization who focuses on recognition and awareness of individuals like my father, grandmother, and family friends; farmworkers. I dove deeper into the values and mission of SAF and found myself feeling understood. I have always been interested and eager to learn more about the various factors that impact our communities, especially when those are often forgotten by the general population. At first, I felt like I didn’t have a voice – who would ever listen to a teenager speaking on low wages and unsafe housing conditions? But, thankfully, I found SAF, a place designed specifically for my voice and others alike to be projected and heard. I impatiently wait to see what the future holds for me within SAF.
I’m most excited to learn about farmworkers through the lenses of their personal experiences rather than a political sense and be able to interact with my community in a way never done before; with this excitement comes fear. I’m afraid of not showcasing the true dignity and resilience all these individuals exhibit through my own work – how do I ensure my work reflects their stories and uplifts them instead of reducing them to just their experiences? But I know with the staff at SAF, we will ensure the stories are treated with the dignity they emit and advocate for humane treatment for all.