What did the graduates of the Class of 2023 learn from their high school experience? Itineris Early College High School graduate Sebastian Otero Daza, who worked a full-time job while he was a full-time student, learned: “If you don’t know how to manage your time, you’re going to have a heck of a lot of struggles, which I did.”

For part of his high school career, Sebastian was working a part-time job and full-time job (often putting in 50 hours a week,) while also taking high school and college classes at Itineris Early College High School to earn both his high school diploma and associate’s degree.

“It was a challenge,” he said. “I really had to be very wise with my time and where I had to spend it.”

Sebastian, who is originally from Colombia, worked at Itineris as a translator for Spanish students. He translated for students in a math class during the hour gap he had in his own school schedule. After school, he worked a full-time job. He would begin his homework at about 10 p.m.

Sebastian said he learned preparation skills and time management skills in his school classes. He tried to prioritize work and school over fun and so he often sacrificed sleep and time for himself.

He said having such a full schedule also forced him to minimize distractions, especially while doing his schoolwork, because he wanted to maintain good grades. He learned that having his phone next to him was a big distraction.

“You have your phone next to you, and it goes on and on, and you decide to open it, and then you get distracted, so you lose that train of thought,” he said. He said avoiding distractions and trying to focus as hard as possible helped him avoid procrastination.

Eventually, Sebastian changed his full-time job to one with fewer hours.  λ