1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: Hey, Latino USA listener, here's a show from our archibos. 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,079 Speaker 2: I think when the reality reality of everything, hey, was 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 2: when my dad came home early and he told me 4 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 2: that he lost his job. It was kind of like 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 2: a wake up call, but it was also fear for 6 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 2: how long is he not going to have a job. 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: It was a typical weekday in March when Kate Bustamante 8 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: was sitting in class chatting with her friends. 9 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 2: I remember I had my music class and me and 10 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 2: my friend were joking about how if this actually got 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: that bad, we'd be having skype calls for class. 12 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: News had been bubbling that COVID nineteen was beginning to 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 1: shut down restaurants, stores, schools all across California. Kate wrapped 14 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: up her music class and headed to her next one 15 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: in the newsroom on campus. 16 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,919 Speaker 2: And everyone's like outside and they're like, oh, we're not 17 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:51,319 Speaker 2: going today, And I was like, what do you mean 18 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 2: We're not going today? And yeah, they told us that 19 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 2: they were like going to close the school down because 20 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 2: of COVID, And. 21 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: Just like that, overnight, Kate went from being a full 22 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: time college student to her family's main breadwinner from Futromedia 23 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: and prx it's Latino USA I Maria Ino Rosac. Today 24 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: the pandemic has upended and jeopardized the education and future 25 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: of so many college students. We hear from one of them. 26 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: The summer of twenty twenty was filled with uncertainty in 27 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: the US. COVID nineteen had left more than twenty million 28 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: people without an income within the first few months of 29 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: the outbreak. The majority of those affected were immigrants and 30 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: young workers, specifically those in Generation Z, the generation entering 31 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: adulthood after millennials, with classes forced to go online. College 32 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: enrollment also plunged. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 33 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: freshman enrollment is down by more than sixteen percent nationwide, 34 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: and it's even higher for community colleges. Survey data from 35 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 1: the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that many Gen 36 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: Z students have withdrawn from classes and have delayed their graduation. 37 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: While millennials came of age during the Great Recession in 38 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: two thousand and nine, gen Zers were starting their adult 39 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 1: years in a strong economy with record low unemployment. That 40 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: is until COVID nineteen shook the nation's economy. Now Gen 41 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: Z is staring directly into an uncertain future. Today We're 42 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: going to be hearing from Kate Bustamante, who's a twenty 43 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: year old student at Santa Anna College and a reporter 44 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 1: with El Dawn, the school's award winning student newspaper. While 45 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: many gen Zers who made national headlines are recent grads 46 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: without job prospects, Latino USA wanted to take a look 47 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: at an other side of the diverse gen Z experience 48 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: and look at another kind of essential worker. Kate is 49 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: going to pick up this story now. 50 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 2: This summer, my workday has looked a lot different than 51 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: they ever have been. 52 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 3: Oh my god, do you hear that? 53 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 2: Do you hear that? 54 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 3: Annoying? 55 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 2: It's a did just let's yeah. 56 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 3: I usually only have one alarm. 57 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 2: I'm not like the person that needs six to wake 58 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: me up, which is weird because I consider myself a 59 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 2: pretty heavy sleeper. 60 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 3: But once I hear the alarm, I know it's time 61 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 3: to go. 62 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: Hey, I'm Kate Wista Monthe what you heard was me 63 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 2: recording my thoughts. 64 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 3: I've been doing that all summer. 65 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: Sorry, I started cracking my fingers with them. Having like 66 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: my clean room and bathroom have really made being at 67 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 2: home a lot better because I used to not like 68 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 2: being at home. Before this whole COVID thing, I've gotten 69 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 2: to spend a lot more time in my little sister. 70 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: We've gotten to do some planting. 71 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 3: So we can make like a little nice gardener, and. 72 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: Then she has a little succulent she's growing. The whole 73 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 2: quarantine was kind of a nightmare for me because I 74 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 2: prefer to be outside. This summer wasn't the easiest, not 75 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 2: just for me, but for a lot of people my age, 76 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: or at least for my friends and people I talked 77 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 2: to Attendana College. I remember a conversation I had with 78 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 2: a close friend who class. It was at the beginning 79 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 2: of the summer, and we were talking about our futures 80 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 2: as students and what that might be if me and 81 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: her worrying about it, like I'm sure other students are 82 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: tripping about what they're going to even do, because we 83 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 2: were talking about like in the long run, like what's 84 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 2: safe to study right now, Like what's safe to rely 85 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 2: on that you know that we can get something out of. 86 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 2: I've always felt some pressure for my parents to study 87 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: something safe and practical. I'm actually a psychology major, but 88 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: I think I want to do something in visual arts, 89 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: maybe even graphic design. For magazines. My parents aren't documented, 90 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: and providing for my parents and my little sister is 91 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 2: important to me. I just didn't think i'd be doing 92 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 2: it so soon. I've always worked and studied at the 93 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 2: same time. I used to take the bus at four 94 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: am to work a shift before my morning class, but 95 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 2: it was my choice. Now I need to work. But 96 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: before we get into my summer, you need to know 97 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 2: about the city. I grew up in, Santa Ana, California. 98 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: If you look at Santa Ana on a math, you'll 99 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: see that it's in Orange County. But I don't associate 100 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 2: them together. When people think of Orange County, they think 101 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 2: of beaches and rich white people. Santaana feels so separate. 102 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 2: It's working class. It's its own place. You know how 103 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 2: they say like there's beauty in the struggle. I feel 104 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 2: like that itself is a good way to describe Santa Ana. 105 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 3: It's always busy. 106 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: It's always people like going into work or going out 107 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 2: of work. 108 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 3: I think it's a. 109 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 2: Lot of people just trying to make sure that their 110 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: kids go to school. I think it's a lot of 111 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 2: kids trying to leave their parents' houses. It's I don't know. 112 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 2: I feel like growing up here. It makes you want 113 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: to leave, not necessarily because it's such a bad place, 114 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: but because it's hard to see your familys struggle. 115 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 3: And I feel like that's what a lot of the 116 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 3: people here. 117 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: In sant Aana do, at least for me, like growing 118 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 2: up in Santa Ana and seeing my parents struggle, it 119 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: definitely puts it into perspective for me, like I have 120 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 2: to work my way out of this. 121 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 3: I have to find solutions. 122 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: You know, to be more resourceful, to just be able 123 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: to get to a place where I can support from 124 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 2: my parents instead of like expecting everything to be handed 125 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 2: to me from them. It's difficult to imagine leaving the 126 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: city because it's all I've known, But I definitely don't 127 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: want to have to work that hard physically for the 128 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 2: rest of my life. 129 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 3: So my dad came first. 130 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 2: His first job was taco bellt like cooking job, and 131 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: that was my first job, so that was cool. My 132 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: mom crossed the border when she was eight months pregnant 133 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 2: with me. She was still like working in Mexico, and 134 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 2: she tells me that she would fall asleep at like 135 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: her little store stand, and the customers would just call 136 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 2: her sleeping beauty. It leaves you in awe, you know, 137 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 2: because they really did sacrifice like everything just to come 138 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: over here for our better futures. It's not something to 139 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: take lightly at all. Is there respect to Carrie for 140 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: them for life? You know? Right now, I live with 141 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 2: my mom, dad, and my little sister. My mom's brother 142 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: used to live with us, but he moved out last 143 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: year and I finally got my own room. My family 144 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 2: we get along, but I wouldn't say we're close. We 145 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 2: don't really talk about what we're feeling. My dad's shy 146 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 2: and my mom's outgoing and cares about everyone. They're both 147 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 2: hard working people. I'm a little bit of both. I 148 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 2: love that she taught me like to value people's work 149 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 2: and like livelihoods no matter what position they're in. 150 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:20,679 Speaker 3: My mom used to read. 151 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 2: Me like fairy tales and Spanish, so I feel like 152 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 2: that was like a huge source of my imagination because 153 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: I always used to doodle when I was younger. 154 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 3: My parents always. 155 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: Really pushed school on me, so I felt a lot 156 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 2: of pressure to have good grades, but I also obviously had. 157 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 3: My own interests. 158 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 2: I definitely always saw drawing and art as an escape 159 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 2: and escape from like that kind of pressure. 160 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 3: I like the freedom in it. 161 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: I literally has tree D's since I was in elementary, 162 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 2: you know, so this is like I needed a kind 163 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 2: of something that it was like up to my choice. Currently, 164 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 2: I'm a junior at Santa Ana College. It's our local 165 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 2: community college, which most of us just call it SACK. 166 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 2: It's kind of like shameful to go to SACK. A 167 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 2: lot of our counselors were kind of like against students 168 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 2: going there subtly, but it was still like, you know, 169 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 2: they pushed you to go to more of like the 170 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 2: four years and other places that were outside. 171 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 3: Of Santa Anna. 172 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 2: I went to cap Pally Pomona for like a week 173 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 2: because that was kind of like the expectation. Its full 174 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 2: name is California State Polytechnic University Pomona, also known as 175 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 2: cal Poly Pomona. It's a four year university about twenty 176 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 2: five miles from Santa Ana, which is about half an 177 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: hour without traffic in a car, but with public transportation 178 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 2: it could take almost three hours. My parents are really proud, 179 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 2: so I definitely felt like I had to go to 180 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 2: a bigger school. But dude, when I got there, it 181 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 2: was just so it was very overwhelming in the sense 182 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 2: that I was not used to that big of classroom sizes. 183 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 2: I was not used to that like atmosphere of just 184 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 2: being alone. And it was just so much that they 185 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 2: threw on you, like all at once, and just those 186 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 2: like first three days, and like financially it was so 187 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 2: like draining because it was so far and I didn't 188 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 2: get accepted into the dorms so I had to like 189 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 2: commute and I don't have my own car, so it 190 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 2: was just so much. But I did go to like 191 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 2: my first college party on my second day, just like 192 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 2: a random thing that happened. The moment I realized it 193 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 2: was too much was a few days in and I 194 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 2: had a breakdown. I just remember feeling super overwhelmed after 195 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 2: my children's philosophy class that I had enrolled for at Kalpolamna. 196 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 3: There was this program. 197 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 2: That you had to have bought to get the assignments, 198 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 2: and I think it was like eighty dollars and I 199 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 2: was thinking like, oh, yeah, like I can just save 200 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 2: that for my paycheck and pay next week, but apparently 201 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 2: we had to have it like that day. So the 202 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: next day I went into class, I was missing like 203 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:03,839 Speaker 2: one assignment already, and I was like, oh, my god, 204 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 2: I'm already missing in an assignment and it's so expensive 205 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 2: just to be able to see what. 206 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 3: The assignment was. 207 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 2: And so like I just went into the bathroom because 208 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,719 Speaker 2: I felt real liverwhelmed, and they started crying. 209 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 3: And I was just kind of like, I don't think 210 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 3: I should be here. 211 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,199 Speaker 2: It was really like hard to like have that conversation 212 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 2: with my parents of like, actually, like I can't be here. 213 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 2: I think At first they were definitely skeptical, so that 214 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 2: was like my fear, which is why like I definitely 215 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 2: I was like dreading telling them. But after like I 216 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 2: explained it, my mom was super understanding. She was just 217 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 2: glad that I wasn't gonna like leave school. You know, 218 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 2: it's just hard because they tell they put a lot 219 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 2: of pressure, like telling you they came from where they 220 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: come from so you can have a good future, and 221 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 2: it's not something that like I'm not that I like 222 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 2: just or I'm not completely aware of, so I don't know, 223 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 2: it was just hard. So yeah, I was like, what 224 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: if I just went to sign at college, my first 225 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 2: year would be free. I'd obviously be able to have 226 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 2: a job because it's close to home. I could just 227 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 2: work around my schedule. I don't remember my first few classes, 228 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 2: but I do remember the opportunities that came from my 229 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 2: first semester. I had a friend who told me about 230 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 2: this journalism writing class and then there was this like 231 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 2: LGBTQ mural that they had on that campus, and I 232 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 2: was just telling her, like how it was really cool 233 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 2: that we had that, and then she's like, Okay, you 234 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 2: come to the newsroom with me real quick, and I 235 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 2: just go with her, and then I was like having 236 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 2: the conversation with her, and they all just kind of like, well, 237 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 2: you should write about it, and I was like, I've 238 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 2: never written for anything, and they were like, no, you're good. 239 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 3: Just go out there. You can interview them. So I 240 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 3: talked to the mural teacher. 241 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 2: He was super cool, easy, first interview, I got like 242 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 2: my published and I had no idea that was gonna happen. 243 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 2: I wasn't even part of the newspaper yet. After that, 244 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 2: that's when I joined. The next semester, I was able 245 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 2: to be in both the mural team and the newspaper, 246 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 2: so I feel like that's when things kind of started 247 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 2: making sense. I've been at Santana College for two years 248 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 2: now and I'm still part of the student newspaper. 249 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 3: It's called El Dawn. 250 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 2: Psychology is still my major, but I've been leaning towards communications, 251 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 2: specifically in the visual arts. It's made me the most happy. 252 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 2: And before Sakshaw down in March, I was in my 253 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: fourth semester. 254 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 3: That's when everything was really going to be good. 255 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 2: I was taking sign language, I was taking music, I 256 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 2: was still doing the newspaper. I was planning on taking 257 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 2: multicultural psychology. I think we only had maybe six or 258 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 2: eight weeks left, but at the time I was just 259 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 2: going through too much. 260 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 3: Like my dad lost his job. 261 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 2: I had just started a new part time job as 262 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 2: a cashier at an organic grocery store, the kind with 263 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 2: the juice bar, vitamins, and beauty department. It's not like 264 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 2: any grocery store I ever went to as a kid. 265 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 2: When the whole pandemic started, I feel that a lot 266 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 2: of families were losing income, including mine. My dad's worked 267 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 2: as a cook for the past sixteen years, and the 268 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 2: diner he worked at shut down in March, so he 269 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 2: lost his job and my mom lost work two She 270 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 2: mostly cleaned houses. So I dropped my classes and just 271 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: kept one the newsroom. My parents didn't know I did that, 272 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 2: and honestly, they still don't know. I didn't want them 273 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 2: to feel like they were pressuring me. And like I said, 274 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 2: we don't talk much about what we're feeling, but it 275 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 2: was kind of a given. I've seen how much they 276 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 2: give up for me, whether it's their rest or when 277 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 2: they have to work multiple jobs. I've never gone hungry. 278 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 2: They've always made sure I was fed. So that's what 279 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 2: I wanted to do for them. 280 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 3: I had to. 281 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 2: We had rent to pay, the phone, the life bill, 282 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: the internet. My little sister needed it for school. We 283 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 2: had groceries to buy. I needed to work full time, 284 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 2: so I asked my manager. I just told him like, oh, yeah, 285 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 2: you can get me forty hours. He's like, oh, you 286 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 2: want to work forty hours? And I was like, yeah, 287 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 2: I kind of need to. 288 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: Coming up on Latino USA. 289 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 2: I turned twenty this year, and I've been reflecting on 290 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 2: the value my parents put on education and all the 291 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: pressures I've been feeling. 292 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 3: My mom and dad are both. 293 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 2: From small towns, and they saw how people without an 294 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 2: education were treated differently in Mexico with less respect. Even 295 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 2: though I've learned throughout the years that someone's education shouldn't 296 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 2: be a factor in how. 297 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 3: You treat them. 298 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 2: I definitely understand that they want the best for me, 299 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 2: so no one can look down on me. 300 00:15:52,000 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: Stay with us, not to buy yes A, We're back. 301 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: When we left off, Kate Ustamante had just dropped all 302 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: of her classes except one because overnight she had to 303 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: work full time to help support her family. Her decision 304 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: not only set back her education, but also the future 305 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: that she and especially her immigrant parents, had envisioned for her. 306 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: And Katie's going to pick up the story from here. 307 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 3: Thank you. Wow, it's so hot, man, Let's go for 308 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 3: my luncheon. 309 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,440 Speaker 2: Every day my work hours fluctuate. I'll go in as 310 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 2: early as eight for a morning shift and as late 311 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 2: as by for a night shift. Before I even enter 312 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 2: the door, I have to obviously think of putting on 313 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 2: my mask. I have to know where my apron is. 314 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 2: I try my best to avoid customers as I'm entoring, 315 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 2: but most of the time I'll just put on my 316 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:43,479 Speaker 2: apron after so it's usually just me passing by co 317 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 2: workers saying hello, good morning, when is the ass? 318 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 3: Hello? When the ass constan? Hello? What is the ass? 319 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 2: And then I go clock in or I wait until 320 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 2: it's my time with clocking. Sometimes I'm there like a minute, really, 321 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 2: so I just wait until it's right on the dot. 322 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 3: That was all the juicing equipment that you heard back there, 323 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 3: and then. 324 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 2: I put on my apron. I go out to the 325 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 2: floor and I ask which you're. 326 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 3: To come in. I am cocked in. 327 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 2: I'm walking to Register one. I usually have to switch 328 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: out with the person that's on Register one, so I'd 329 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 2: be the register that's closest to the door, which is 330 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 2: always the busiest register no matter what. It's the register 331 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 2: that's dreaded by everyone. But you know, like when you're 332 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 2: going in, most of the time you go to Register one. 333 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 3: I sign in, I tell the customer, high. 334 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 2: Hi, Yeah, it just begins. 335 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 3: It's going to be thirty nine. 336 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 2: My second day of work was chaotic, like even now, 337 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 2: customers will tell me like, how long have you been here? 338 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: And I'm like, oh, since the first day of the 339 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 2: panic shopping because like it was just a lot. Like 340 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,120 Speaker 2: I know grocery stores got busy because obviously I've been 341 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 2: to them, but I never saw anything like that where 342 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 2: I was ringing up like six hundred, three hundred, four 343 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 2: hundred freaking totals I've never seen someone spend that much 344 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 2: on groceries, Like it was crazy to me. It was 345 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:30,360 Speaker 2: kind of like a frenzy where people were just kind 346 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 2: of freaking out. 347 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 3: And they just kind of put me on a register. 348 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 2: And I felt really embarrassed by asking questions, but also 349 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 2: like I had to because a lot of these people 350 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 2: you could tell they would be pissed off if. 351 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:42,120 Speaker 3: I got one little thing wrong. 352 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 2: And I think a lot of the customers were skeptical 353 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 2: about the fact that I was new, so that was 354 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 2: like an added pressure because I was just trying to 355 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 2: do my best and it felt like they were just 356 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: waiting for me to mess up. But all in all, 357 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 2: I think I handled myself well, like compared to how 358 00:19:56,240 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 2: irritated and annoyed the customers were. I only see you 359 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:02,399 Speaker 2: as like a means of getting their things, you know, 360 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 2: Like it's clear they don't really see you as a person. 361 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 2: They just see you as a worker. There's this one 362 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 2: lady who's like a regular. She's an older white lady. 363 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 2: So she comes to my line this one time and 364 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 2: I said hi, and then she didn't say hi back. 365 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 2: But I really don't I don't take it too personal 366 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 2: because sometimes you just don't hear you know, I get that. 367 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 2: But then I ask her, Oh, do you need any bags? 368 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 2: And she just ignored me again. So I asked it 369 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 2: again and she ignored me. And I know it was 370 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:30,919 Speaker 2: loud at that time too, because like, I have a 371 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 2: pretty loud voice when I want it to be. So 372 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 2: I just like scanned all her stuff. She was so 373 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,479 Speaker 2: rude the whole time. She could have acknowledged me at 374 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 2: the very least. Whenever I'm in a situation where I 375 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 2: feel kind of stressed out, I like to make physical 376 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 2: changes to myself. I feel like I get bored of 377 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 2: looking at the same person in the mirror. So I've 378 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 2: done three sticking cook tattoos on myself over the course 379 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 2: of this quarantine. I've bleached my hair twice. So the 380 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 2: sticking pook tattoo is like a needle going through your 381 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 2: skin each dot that you make, and then those dots 382 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 2: obviously formed the tattoo or the image you choose to do. 383 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 2: Last year, my aunt, my mom's favorite sister, passed away 384 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 2: in a car accident. Her name was Ugana, and I 385 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 2: grew up with her around. 386 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 3: My aunt always had tattoos. 387 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 2: She always really liked butterflies too, so I knew that 388 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 2: I wanted to do a butterfly like in her honor. 389 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 2: I think she would have appreciated that. 390 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 3: I just felt like we had a lot in common 391 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 3: in a way. 392 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 2: I feel like we were both kind of like the 393 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 2: black sheep if our family, you know, we're like, we're 394 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 2: kind of just. 395 00:21:58,640 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 3: Different in a way. 396 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 2: She wasn't as traditional as her siblings and my grandma 397 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 2: and mom a, so it was. 398 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:07,400 Speaker 3: Like refreshing to have that. 399 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 2: Like a different perspective than like the rest of my 400 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 2: family members. This has been my first experience with the 401 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 2: passing of anyone that was really close to me. My 402 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 2: family's never been very vocal, but I think for the 403 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 2: first time in years, we were all really close. That 404 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 2: week that she passed away, we all got together. It's 405 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 2: been a few months since the pandemic started. Today is 406 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 2: July fourth, and I actually had the day off. I 407 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 2: just feel like I'm a lot more drained, obviously because 408 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 2: I don't have Even though school was tiring in his 409 00:22:56,720 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 2: own I did still see it as like an outlet 410 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 2: because I had those classes that I was genuinely interested 411 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 2: in learning. I do miss learning, and I miss like 412 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 2: that sense of like people who I actually got along 413 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 2: with instead of people that I'm forced to interact with 414 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 2: every day. You know, I just think it's a sense 415 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 2: of tiredness and exhaustion. But I'm grateful that I can 416 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 2: provide for my parents and sister and that I do, 417 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 2: we do still have this place to live under. One 418 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 2: of their fears is definitely like me dropping school. So 419 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 2: I didn't want to like give them any reason to, 420 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 2: you know, because they'll still tell me now, just because 421 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 2: they know I don't like online classes. And they've asked 422 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 2: me about next semester and how that's going to go, 423 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 2: and I've told them like, well, if it's only online, 424 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,400 Speaker 2: then I'd rather only take like one or two classes. 425 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 2: But they're still like scared that I'll just leave it completely, 426 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 2: which isn't like a plan of mine, obviously, but I 427 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 2: think they're just worried by August. I've always worked, but 428 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:54,199 Speaker 2: I feel like I've never worked this hard or like 429 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 2: just been this tired from a job, like mentally and physically. 430 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 3: I think it's mostly like mentally draining because of thing 431 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 3: going on. Even everything's super hard. 432 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,479 Speaker 2: I think that's something that I keep reminding myself this 433 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 2: isn't even as hard as it could be. 434 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 3: I don't think they're really like aware of. 435 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 2: The fact that the semester is starting. To my mom, 436 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 2: the goal is just kind of to finish graduating college 437 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 2: in general, but I still have to get like a 438 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 2: job after, you know, with even if I end up 439 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,200 Speaker 2: with whatever degree I choose to. She just wants a degree, 440 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 2: but I have to do something with it for it 441 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:30,719 Speaker 2: to have been worthwhile. So I think that's a lot 442 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:33,199 Speaker 2: of pressure, but I don't I don't really know what 443 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 2: to do so far yet. All Right, So it's one 444 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 2: twelve in the morning of the first day of fall semester, 445 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 2: and I'm registering for my classes right now. I like 446 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 2: mentioned it to my coworker today that tomorrow was the 447 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:55,640 Speaker 2: first day of class, and he was like, oh, how 448 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 2: do you feel about it? And I just kind of 449 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,719 Speaker 2: told him, well, I haven't even said up yet, so 450 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 2: I've been kind of avoiding it. I'm for sure only 451 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 2: gonna take one class. I think just like how overwhelmed 452 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 2: I was by even trying to search up classes really 453 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 2: just ensured myself that I should really just take the 454 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 2: one class. My mom told me that she wants to 455 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 2: quit her night job, which is like her biggest source 456 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 2: of income. So that was something that I didn't expect. 457 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 2: But I'm glad for her because they were expecting her 458 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 2: to clean restrooms for the same amount of pay that 459 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 2: she was already getting. And she herself was like, just 460 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 2: because there's not a lot of work right now, it 461 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 2: doesn't mean I'm gonna just let them take advantage of me. 462 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:53,360 Speaker 2: So I like that she knows her worth. But yeah, 463 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 2: I'm just a little bit worried about the money situation. 464 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 2: So I know that if I took more classes, i'd 465 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 2: be worried about my availability for work, as I know 466 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 2: a lot of students right now probably are juggling their 467 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 2: schedule for online classes with their you know, work schedules. Yeah, 468 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 2: I just feel a little tired by a little, I 469 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 2: mean a lot. Some days I'm drained from just talking 470 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 2: to people that go through my cashier line. But most 471 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:31,440 Speaker 2: days I think about how my parents have been working 472 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:34,360 Speaker 2: their whole lives and are always tired, and I don't 473 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 2: want to be a part of that cycle just repeat 474 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 2: like minimum wage forever. You know, I would hate to 475 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 2: not be able to rest and to not be able 476 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 2: to give my parents the rest that they deserve. I 477 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 2: feel like that's the reality for a lot of people, 478 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 2: even though they're scared to say. 479 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:54,920 Speaker 3: I'm scared that it could happen to me. I would 480 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:58,440 Speaker 3: hate to stay at a grocery store forever. I turned 481 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 3: twenty this year, and I've been reflecting on the value 482 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 3: my parents put on education and all the pressures I've 483 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,400 Speaker 3: been feeling. My mom and dad are both from small towns, 484 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,120 Speaker 3: and they saw how people without an education were treated 485 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 3: differently in Mexico, with less respect. Even though I've learned 486 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 3: throughout the years that someone's education shouldn't be a factor 487 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 3: in how you treat them. I definitely understand that they 488 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 3: want the best for me, so no one can look 489 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 3: down on me. Their American dream for me is and 490 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,399 Speaker 3: I've heard them say this so many times that I 491 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 3: don't struggle the way they did. 492 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 2: It took me all summer, but I finally registered for 493 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 2: one class newspaper. It was at the end of August, 494 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 2: the first day of the new semester. Seeing my el 495 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:47,719 Speaker 2: down family again was really nice. I was able to 496 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: go on to Zoom and it was cool because there 497 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:51,399 Speaker 2: was a lot more people than I expected there to be, 498 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:52,960 Speaker 2: like a lot of returning. 499 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 3: People, which I was really happy about. 500 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 2: When I spoke to my advisor, Sarah, she was very 501 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:01,119 Speaker 2: willing and understanding of the situation that I'm going through 502 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:02,679 Speaker 2: right now. I've talked to her a lot about like 503 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 2: my personal struggles when it comes to finances and just 504 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:11,119 Speaker 2: like being an eldest daughter, it's different, you know. I 505 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:12,399 Speaker 2: feel like there's a lot of pressure on me at 506 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 2: all times. As far as like my future goes, I 507 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 2: still definitely have no idea what career I could choose 508 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:21,800 Speaker 2: that would be dependable and just reliable, because I think 509 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 2: if there's one thing that this whole pandemic half year 510 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 2: has taught me is that nothing is really ever for sure. 511 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 2: You know, nothing is ever really guaranteed. My dad is 512 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 2: back to working now. He's not full time, but he's 513 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 2: working at least three days a week. My mom is 514 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 2: also back to work. I know, if it were up 515 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 2: to my parents, I would quit my job and I'd 516 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 2: be going to school full time. But they need me 517 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:51,880 Speaker 2: to work right now. It's like an unspoken agreement. 518 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: Our thanks to you, Kate, for sharing your story with us. 519 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 1: This episode was produced by Janasiamoca and edited by Miel Macis. 520 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: And Andrea Lopez Gruzzalo. It was mixed by Elishiba Itto. 521 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: The Latino USA team includes Marta Martinez, Daisy Contreres, Mike sergent, 522 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 1: Viktori Estrada, Renaldo Leanos, Junior Patrisa Subran, with help from 523 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: Raul Berees. Our editorial director is Fernande Santos. Our director 524 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: of Engineering is Stephanie Lebau. Our senior engineer is Julia Caruso. 525 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: Our associate engineers are jj Carubin and Gabriela Bias. Our 526 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 1: marketing manager is Luis Luna. Our New York Women's Foundation 527 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: Fellow is Elizabeth Lenthal Torres. Our theme music was composed 528 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 1: by Sane Ruinos. I'm your host and executive producer Maria 529 00:29:57,440 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: jo Josa. Join us again on our next episode. In 530 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: the meantime, look for us on all of your social 531 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 1: media and remember lots by. 532 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 2: Funding for Latino USA is coverage of a culture of 533 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 2: health is made possible in part by a grant from 534 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 2: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Latino USA is made possible 535 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 2: in part by the Annie E. 536 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 3: Casey Foundation. 537 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 2: Creates a brighter future for the nation's children by strengthening families, 538 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 2: building greater economic opportunity and transforming communities and California Endowment. 539 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 2: Building a strong state by improving the health of all Californians.