Teens and young adults who worked prior to the mandatory shut down in workplaces deemed essential are now being worked overtime. Teens are struggling to handle thirty-two hour weeks and high school. 

Since March, Michigan has been in lock down. Schools, shopping malls, restaurants, they have all been temporarily shut down. Business owners now have to make the decision to either close for good or suffer the financial impact. 

Schools started implementing online learning in March or early April, depending on the district, to continue the education of Michigan students. According to P-CEP schools, work is to be given out in two week intervals to give students more time to work from home. 

High schoolers and college students who are employed at jobs during this time are feeling like their schedules are over-packed. 

Jordan Patete, a junior at Canton High School, finds it difficult to handle a job, a busy home life and school. 

“Because I work six, seven hour shifts and I have a family at home, it is hard to focus on school,” Patete said.

College students have had a lot of stress as well. First being kicked out of dorms, and then having to move home, students reported feeling overwhelmed.

 Emma Mastny, a sophomore at Oakland University, finds balancing work and classes difficult. 

“I work 25-30 hours a week,” said Mastny.  “Since this thing started, it has been really busy at work, so it’s hard to come home after a full shift and still have to worry about school.”

Both students also said that teachers give out a lot of assignments, and it can be hard to keep track of all their school work and still have to go to work at least 25 hours a week. 

Patete summed up the struggle. “I have about 18 assignments a week…and have 25-hour weeks.”