Story by Kaytlen Parker

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When COVID struck close to home, almost everything about our way of life changed. Schools and businesses began closing, face masks became mandated, and suddenly every venture outside became potentially lethal . Yet, during these dangerous times , essential employees, who put their own health on the line to serve our community, still pulled through. When most people think of essential employees they think of doctors and nurses, but there are so many other members of the community that provide essential or beneficial services. Many of these helpful workers come from our own student body.

Junior Alexandra Cisneros, works at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and has been working since COVID began. Just like any other place open right now, Fiesta Texas has had to change its operations to better serve their customers and employees at this time.

“In terms of COVID safety, we are now requiring reservations to enter the park,” Cisneros said. “We have markings in lines for guests to stand on for social distancing, and we are cleaning our stations as much as possible.”

In a place as large as Six Flags, it can become difficult to control everything in a safe manner, but Cisneros ensures the employees at Six Flags are trying their hardest to keep everyone safe while providing a fun experience for guests.

“There are team members who walk around the park to make sure guests comply with our rules for COVID,” Cisneros said. “It has become a little harder to deal with some guests; some of them still don’t understand that we have to make changes to the way we operate the park. It’s all so that we can stay open and provide a fun day for everyone as safe as we can.”

While Six Flags is a large, outdoor park, many student-employees work in much smaller settings. This can be seen as even riskier since workers are so close to each other, but like any other business, these companies are able to work around these challenges and create safe solutions. Senior Zoey Martindale is an example of an employee adapting to these small settings, as she works at Duck Donuts.

“At first we closed the store and did curbside pick up,” Martindale said, “but now we are allowing up to 12 customers inside at a time.”

Martindale explains that even though Duck Donuts is a very different environment than a place like Six Flags, safety is just as important. 

“Everyone must stay six feet apart and wear masks,” Martindale said. “Every employees’ temperature is also taken daily before they come to work.”

COVID has also provided unexpected opportunities for teenage workers; with fewer people going out to get jobs and take hours, the employees who are working now have the choice to work more than ever before, which is something Martindale has taken advantage of.

“I actually got my job during COVID, and I’ve been able to have many hours,” Martindale said. “Having more hours is great because I can save more money for college and other things, plus online school gives scheduling more flexibility.”