A long way from home

JOSE HERRERA Reporter @jose_herrera012

Not many young adults can say they have experiences that shake them to the core. But with family at stake and courage at hand, Pierce College sophomore Kevin Jose Campos Hurculez plunges deep into the waters to aid his family.

Hurculez, also known as “Che Che” by family and friends, has many adventures to tell for those who are willing to listen. Since he was 12-years-old, Hurculez’s family had struggled financially. This pushed him to seek employment early on.

“I came with my uncle to basically do gardening work. One day we had a gig, you could say,” Hurculez said. “This family was going to pay us a lot. To a point where I was going to get at least $3,000.”

The job that was offered to the young student was an unexpected departure from what he had known.

Hurculez was hired as the butler for a wealthy family in Ohio after six years of maintaining a relationship with them as their gardener.

“When I first met him I noticed he was serious but dedicated and that’s true now but [he] also jokes around,” Wonser said. “I am honored that Professor Levy and I are able to teach in the profession.”

Gulick spoke of how fortunate it is to share an office with philosophers and sociologists since it allows for lively discussions.

“Professor Levy’s passion for sociology has deepened my interest in and respect for the discipline,” Gulick said.

In one year he taught 14 courses in one semester—three online and 11 at different campuses.

“It would literally be me driving from school, to school, to school to school.” Levy said.

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“I thought we were going to do a house but sadly it became a mansion,” Hurculez laughed. “They told us just to do the flower beds, cut the grass, take out three stumps, and clean around the lake.”

After the initial project was finished the family agreed to have Hurculez and his uncle take care of the mansion. They worked three to four days a week and traveled between California and Ohio. However, the job and the distance could not sever the bonds with his family.

“In a latino family you can’t say we can separate, like legitimately, I came back to my family,” Hurculez said. “No matter if I am gaining more money to support myself. It came to a point that I decided to use the money I had to help out the family. I had to help them out because they helped me out.”

Over time, Hurculez had shown the family qualities that prompted the lady of the house, Rose, to offer him a job as a butler when he was 18 years old. After graduating high school he accepted the position.

“He is loyal to a fault,” public relation major Jared Henderson said. “[Hurculez] Che Che’s best quality is loyalty. He’s always got your back and he’s always looking out for people and taking care of people.”

When he the age of consent, Rose gave Hurculez the choice of residing in the mansion so that he would not have to make the long trip between California and Ohio.

During summer vacations, Hurculez had the opportunity to travel to El Salvador to honor his Olmec ancestors—an Olmec tradition.

In Ohio there are few to any latinos and in the mansion there was only one. Hurculez. He had many duties from grocery shopping, to car washing and anything inbetween. All throughout the manor French, Korean and other languages were heard.

“When I was in Ohio, [there was] a weird depression feeling every single time that I was stressed or in trouble,” Hurculez said.

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