Pablo Zuniga

Collinsville High School

Collinsville, Alabama

A senior at Collinsville High School, Pablo’s young life has been impacted by extraordinary hardships. His mother deserted the family when Pablo and his sister were young. Pablo’s family lived in difficult conditions, including a period residing in a farm silo. Today, Pablo’s father works in another town. Pablo and his sister live with their adopted “grandmother.” The “grandmother” suffers from severe arthritis, leaving Pablo to run the household and care for his sister during the week. Pablo and his sister also help with care for their grandmother. Pablo’s daily tasks consist of the care for his younger sister, seeing to her needs and taking responsibility for getting her to school and church while his father is away, and also helping Ms. Ann (their adopted grandmother.)

Pablo has not let a background of poverty, abuse and neglect hamper his studies and his dreams for the future. A gifted artist, Pablo plans to attend college and major in art or industrial engineering. Pablo serves his community by assisting in translation for Hispanic students and guiding new students on tours around the campus. “His advice has been a great help to these students,” Collinsville High guidance counselor Leslie Brown said. She cited numerous compliments relayed to her from students assisted by Pablo. Dedicated, determined, conscientious, industrious, concerned…for all these qualities and more, Pablo has earned his place as one of Alabama’s Young Heroes of 2009.