Francisco Jimenez's Short Story 'The Circuit'

A migrant worker is a person who has no permanent address or place of living but travels
to seek jobs in agricultural work. Francisco Jimenez wrote a story, “The Circuit” published in the
Points of View: An Anthology of Short Stories about the life of Panchito, a teen migrant worker
in California (257-262). In the beginning of the story Panchito is returning home from working
in the fields with his dad and brother when he notices that they are going to be moving again to
find work elsewhere (Jimenez 257-262). The life of a teenage boy is supposed to be filled with
enjoying life and hanging out with friends, not moving from place to place and working instead
of attending school (Jimenez 257-262). The hardships that Panchito and his family

faced was
first and foremost finding work, adequate living arrangements, and if the family can afford
education over working.
Life can be a struggle for migrant workers. Finding work is the most important aspect.
Without work, a migrant worker will have nothing for support. According to Jimenez, after the
family tries looking for work, they end up finding employment with a well to do gentleman who
in turn has agreed to employ them for an entire season of harvesting (256-262). Panchito and his
family were lucky enough to find work that quickly after moving. After moving from one place
to another, the guarantee of finding work is slim. Panchito and his family moved in hopes of
finding more work. The burden and hardship of this situation rested on Panchito’s father. As the
head of household, he must make sure that he is able to find work and support his wife and kids.