Bronx high school student shines light on 'overlooked New Yorkers'

A Bronx high school student has been highlighting the impact of essential workers being overlooked.

The impact of essential workers

Why you should care:

High school student, Bea Sireci, a junior from the Bronx high school of science, recently wrote an article for her school paper "The Science Survey" highlighting how essential workers can be overlooked, but keep New York running.

In her article, Sireci profiled workers in her neighborhood of Yorkville.

"I just started this semester, and it's a journalism class where we get to kind of explore different articles. We do different issues. Usually we do four to five issues a year. I'm still learning a lot, but yeah it's been really fun," Sireci said.

"We really need to recognize these people and see them as more dimensional than just like the server giving you a bagel. They're more like they have a life and a work style that's important to remember," Sireci said.

How did Sireci's article make essential workers feel?

What they're saying:

Andrew Vazquez is a meat slicer for Regina's grocery, an Italian sandwich shop on the Upper East Side and "honestly did not expect for it to lead to this situation".

"She came and interviewed me and honestly did not expect for it to lead to this situation — right now I'm being interviewed by FOX 5," Vazquez said to FOX 5 NY's Jennifer Williams. 

"Every time somebody comes in here and asks for the sandwich and I give it to them, they always tell me that they love it. Great sandwich. I'm the best sandwich maker in New York City, and it definitely makes me feel pretty good," Vazquez said.

Then there's the quintessential city worker that many starts and end their day with — their doorman.

"Everyone's really nice around here and I feel like that's what I really enjoy about it the most. Helping people out, seeing people every day and just getting to greet them and saying goodbye to them and just seeing everyday lives around here in New York City," doorman Gianni said.

"I think that, myself included, I overlooked these workers and this really meant a lot to me, and I think I will never walk through my neighborhood the same without thinking about these workers and all they do for us," Sireci said.

BronxLifestyle