Many students around the world work and study at the same time, so some need help keeping up with schoolwork. If on top of working you don’t speak the language, then you definitely need extra help Mr. Junceda, our English as a Second Language teacher, said, “A big issue for me is having students graduate.” When I asked him why, he said, “Because some of them work and study, but getting that money makes them think that studying is useless.”
Many students don’t have enough time to work and study. Others like the money and think that they should work instead of studying. I talked to some students about the topic and Kenny Esajuirre, a sophomore, said, “ I have a hard time finishing homework because I work after school. I have thought about leaving school to work full-time because I like the paychecks.”
It is easy to see Kenny’s point, but Mr. Junceda’s logic is different. “I am trying to help [the students] graduate,” he said, “and help them see that graduating can help them get even more money.”
Jose Martinez, a junior, said, “I do want to go to university. I’m not sure yet what I want to study, but I am taking a class here at Greenbrier East that is Construction and it’s helping me get more knowledge.”
Junior Yeison Estrada said, “I like the mechanic class and that it is helping me know more and I am benefiting from it.” He added that he works only during the summer so that during the school year he can focus on his studies.
Some students do appreciate school because they see the benefit in it for the future. “I used to work in roofing but I don’t during the school year because its too much for me,” Martinez said.
Students must do what is best for them and for their families: some work, some study, and some do both in spite of the fact that trying to balance the two can be challenging.
