Job Struggles During COVID

Over the last year, thousands of people lost jobs or had their hours cut because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many scrambling to make ends meet.

Some were just starting out in brand new careers or programs that were forcibly shut down because of the virus. Sidney Tucker, a college student who was accepted into Disney World’s college work program, had only been working at the park a few weeks before she received the unexpected email.

“It was awful. I mean we were literally all in tears holding each other. It got to the point where guests in the actual park were holding college program students as they were crying. I had a little girl come up to me and bring me a card,” Tucker said.

All of her work to get into the program, a process that takes months, over before it ever really started.

Kyle Graef, a Fresno State graduate, was just about to begin his career helping troubled youth at Fresno Unified when the virus struck. He was told they wouldn’t be able to find a spot for him just a few days after being hired. The entire situation left him feeling hopeless.

“I was like, man, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have to have a job. I have to work,” said Graef.

Eventually, luck would start to change for both.

Graef had a friend who worked as a pool guy while attending Fresno State. The friend said that they were looking for another guy, and if he needed a place to work, there was a spot for him. Graef never thought this is where he would be when he got his bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“This is completely different from what I was going to do. I did not think I was going to deal with chemicals,” said Graef. “I thought I was going to wear slacks. I thought I was going to be in a professional environment and instead I’m out here in athletic shorts and a T-shirt working in people back yards. “

Tucker found a job working at a pre-school. Working with little ones had a similar feeling to Disney World, but with the added bonus that she was more than just a custodial worker. Now she gets to actually teach and watch them grow.

“It’s kind of hard to hate your job when you have 20 little ones telling you cute little stories and calling you Miss Sidney and watching them grow up,” said Tucker.

It’s not what they thought they would be doing, but both of them have found ways around the hardships that COVID put them through.

And they’re both enjoying it.

“The fact that I have this job, I’m going back to get my masters now which I probably wouldn’t have been able to do if I was doing a full time job,” said Graef.