By Zoe Buszka

Times are tough in the United States. This has caused many people to lose their jobs. The employment rate has fallen 5 percent in the past year.

One student that has experienced this struggle is Vanessa Rodriguez.  In the past 10 years she has moved from Mexico to Las Vegas then later to Kalamazoo.

The job shifts that were picked up, by her parents, late nights and early mornings. Leaving her brother, Mario, to raise her primarily. Since the age of 8.

Attending schools was hard for Rodriguez. Moving meant transferring, which also meant that her academics were being taught at a different points.

“I had to learn things faster,” Vanessa said. The academic variation between schools.

One thing Rodriguez has struggled with is friends. She grew up faster not being able to live life like a kid. Having social skills is a component in life that is needed for young kids.

When she had to leave her all-time best friend it was one of the lowest of times.

“He [Nic] needed someone too,” she said when talking about her best friend when moving. She did not want to ever get attached to anyone new.

Living in Kalamazoo for the past 6 years she has finally opened up and made two of her new best friends.

Rodriguez still struggles with showing her emotions. She had nobody to blame for the moving so frequently as a kid. But later explains at time where she had placed blame.

“I had this one time where I just blamed life,” said Rodriguez.

Life has its ups and downs. But when the places depend on money, that’s where you will have to live. The employment will have the final say.

Recently the Huffington Post reported that there has been an increase of 7.5 percent of the employment rate.

Even though the hard times for Rodriguez have changed she still has to be worry about the next possible move.