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San Rafael Teen Worked Full-Time At McDonald's To Support Himself

SAN RAFAEL (CBS SF) -- Seventeen-year-old Olman Lopez is financially on his own. No welfare and no support from his parents. He's been working at McDonald's full time since he was 15.

"It's scary because you know that by the end of the month you have to have that money because if you don't, you could get kicked out of the room," Lopez said.

He and his sister rent a room in San Rafael. Together, they scrape by.

Lopez and his sister were born in the United States, but his family returned to Guatemala. His parents are farmers, and poor.

When Lopez was 11, they sent him back here to live with relatives so he could get an education. That worked for a few years, but eventually Lopez and his sister were out on their own.

Lopez said it's hard to be away from his parents. "I always need someone to give me advice or support," he said. "Maybe to give you a hug, to make you feel better, which is what I don't have."

His Students Rising Above adviser Heather McKenzie said he's been functioning as a full adult since he was 15-year-old.

"He had a lot of catching up to do on English and core classes but the hardest part was the work," McKenzie said. "He would describe waking up at 4-5 a.m. to work on homework before school, then going to school all day, trying to stay awake in class, then doing right after school going to McDonald's."

He'd usually get by 11 p.m. By then, he'd be too tired to study.

"It was really hard but I've always tried my best to do everything I can," Lopez said.

For years, his two days off -- Tuesday and Thursday -- were the only days he could concentrate on homework. He didn't have a computer at home, so he'd stay after school those days to finish all his work using the computers in the library.

A turning point for Lopez was being selected for Students Rising Above. McKenzie loaned him a computer and has given him some money so now he only has to work three days.

"He has incredibly difficult circumstances and yet he's rising above," McKenzie said. "He's going to school. He's on track to go to college."

His big goal is to be able to help his parents.

"This is like a great opportunity to succeed and be able to help them just as they have taught me," Lopez said.

Lopez said he wants to study criminal justice and go into law enforcement.

Find out how you can donate to Students Rising Above.

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