It was never a question that Stephanie Contreras-Reyes would take the most rigorous AP classes her school offers.
And when her dad lost his job in March, it was never a question that the 17-year-old would do whatever was needed to keep her family afloat. latimes.com/california/sto…
And when her dad lost his job in March, it was never a question that the 17-year-old would do whatever was needed to keep her family afloat. latimes.com/california/sto…
Stephanie’s at the top of her class, the first in her family to get this far in school.
She is also among an increasing number of teens in L.A. who have started working to help their financially struggling families during the pandemic, often carrying overwhelming loads.
She is also among an increasing number of teens in L.A. who have started working to help their financially struggling families during the pandemic, often carrying overwhelming loads.
After her mother lost her full-time restaurant job last March, Isis Mejia-Duarte, a high school senior, began helping her mom deliver Amazon Fresh and InstaCart groceries.
They could make deliveries more quickly as a team, ultimately fulfilling more orders and making more money.
They could make deliveries more quickly as a team, ultimately fulfilling more orders and making more money.
Then, in December, Isis, her mom and grandmother fell ill with COVID-19. Isis applied to college from her sickbed, sometimes staying up until 5 a.m. to finish her sketchbook and portfolio for CalArts, her dream school.
Despite their lingering fatigue, the pressure to generate income was immense following three weeks of sickness.
So after testing negative for the coronavirus, Isis and her mom returned to the crowded Amazon warehouse in mid-January.
So after testing negative for the coronavirus, Isis and her mom returned to the crowded Amazon warehouse in mid-January.
Antonio Roque, a counselor at Community and Technology School, said the teenagers he works with have been thrown into the world of adult responsibility by coronavirus hardships — and they are in survival mode.
Luis Leon, Isis’ classmate at Woodrow Wilson High School, began taking orders at a McDonald’s drive-through in August after both of his parents were temporarily laid off.
Luis’ $400 monthly paycheck puts food on the table and keeps the lights on.
Luis’ $400 monthly paycheck puts food on the table and keeps the lights on.
But working 20-to-30 hours a week has taken a toll. Between his job and watching his two younger siblings, it’s hard to muster the motivation for academics, especially after a long work shift.
Read the full story from @LauraMNewberry: latimes.com/california/sto…
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