Homeless In High School: One Student’s Story

Could you imagine not having a permanent roof over your head, a place where you and your family can stay safe and warm? Well, that’s a reality for some students attending schools around San Jose Unified School District. A student from San Jose High who wanted to remain anonymous for personal reasons has been living with this struggle ever since he was a sophomore.

The 16 year old junior discussed with Lion Tales his ways of dealing with being a homeless student. “It’s really hard being a homeless student. All I could ever focus on is, where are me and my family going to sleep tonight? Long walks to school, but all I care about is graduating from high school and college to support my family and myself.”

He added, “I feel like homeless students deserve more attention and more support from their respective schools.” Students who are homeless or otherwise living in poverty can benefit from extra help in the form of free lunches and breakfasts, computer access, and waived SAT/AP or college application fees, which their schools typically inform them about applying for.

Schools like Lincoln have also started collections of items that will be provided as Christmas gifts to low-income families. “On Christmas Eve we give families gifts, food, toys, for homeless families all day long,” said Mr. Guzman, the Assistant Principal of Guidance & Equity.

These usually inconspicuous homeless students face many difficulties in their lives and still manage to come to school every day to learn, work, and focus on graduating.

The San Jose High student said, “School was always my escape of not having a home to live in. School was honestly my escape out of everything.” He continued, “School is going great for me, I’m enjoying all my classes… Math is my favorite class. I love working with numbers and solving equations. I’ve always wanted to be an accountant. It’s been my life-long dream.”

Despite his positive attitude and aspirations, he still struggles on a more everyday level. “My daily struggles as a student is to focus on graduating and not be labeled as a ‘homeless kid that won’t make it out.’ And also just not being made fun of because I’m not wearing the newest clothes– that’s another daily struggle I go through.”

A lot of high school students take their more-or-less stable lives for granted, especially in this Holiday season, when really anything could happen to us.

Students and their families who are interested in volunteering to help the homeless this season can visit the websites of two local organizations, Sacred Heart Community Services and InnVision Shelter Network.

The student reflected, “I’m sure I’m going to stay at shelters over the break. I know it sucks but that’s my life unfortunately… No, I don’t enjoy Christmas because I don’t have an actual home to celebrate it with.”