What a Chicago Public Schools Latino valedictorian learned from his first job

*Ray Salazar is a good English teacher. So much so that he promotes his students’ work through his channels outside his Southwest Chicago classroom. He says he’s especially proud of this young student. VL

By Ray Salazar, The White Rhino

For many teens who work and go to high school, life becomes a balancing act of responsibilities.  This spring, the valedictorian at the Southwest side high school where I teach began to confront a new reality in “the real world.”  I proudly share this guest post by my student and mentee Jaime Bautista.

I remember finishing up one of my essays for English and saw my partner next to me taking a nap in the middle of class. I could not believe how lazy a person could be and how he did not appreciate school enough to give all of his attention to it. Little did I know, that this student was working forty hours a week and still attending school every day.

When I used to hear people complain about working after school and having to do homework at night, I did not understand why they were sacrificing their lives at such a young age.  I thought they did not have the motivation to succeed in life. I, as the valedictorian, believed school was more important than work because without an education, we can’t have the credentials to make it in real life. My philosophy could not have been more wrong.

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