On a typical night, Auxmary Valdez returns home from a long day of school, soccer practice and work at a tutoring agency at about 10:30pm. Only then is she able to cram on her school work and work on her college applications.
“That’s on top of the clubs that I’m doing, on top of an AP research project that I’m doing that takes a lot of time,” said Valdez, a senior at Mater Lakes Academy in Hialeah, a charter school.
In a text message group with friends, the 17-year old says there’s growing concern about a bill being discussed and considered by the Florida legislature. The bill — HB 49 — would weaken many of Florida’s laws on child labor.
If passed, the bill would allow bosses to ask 16- and 17-year olds to work more than 30 hours a week during the school year, something that is currently illegal under Florida law. If it passes, Valdez fears jobs will simply ask teenagers to work more and more hours — because they can.
READ MORE: Some states Consider Easing Child Labor Law
She fears the bill would lead to some tough choices for teenagers like herself trying to finish high school.
“I would have to find a way to either call off at work or cut back my extracurriculars and lower my chances at college. Like — lower my admissions chances by not being as involved in those clubs,” she said. “In the end, it's education or money. And you do need an education to make money in the future.”
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