Latest news with #MariaMendoza
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta Burger King employee worked a last-minute shift in his graduation gown — what this teen can teach you
While many high school graduates are celebrating the season with dinners, parties and well-deserved rest, one teen in metro Atlanta marked the milestone a little differently — trading his cap and gown for a shift at Burger King. Still wearing his graduation medals around his neck, 18-year-old Mykale Baker showed up to work at the Dacula location just hours after receiving his diploma. His decision not only showed commitment but also caught the internet's attention. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Maria Mendoza, a customer who had just come from her own daughter's graduation, stopped by the restaurant for a quick burger when she noticed Baker behind the counter. Inspired by his work ethic and touched by the sight of his medals, she filmed a short video and posted it to TikTok, where it quickly went viral, gaining nearly four million views. But Mendoza didn't stop there. She also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Baker's college expenses. What started as a small act of kindness quickly turned into something much bigger: an outpouring of support from strangers across the country. The campaign initially raised just over $6,000, but as of this week, it has grown to more than $87,000. At a time when headlines about Gen Z often focus on entitlement, Baker's story stands out for one simple reason: he showed up. And sometimes, just showing up — even when no one's watching — can change your life. In Georgia, the state minimum wage is officially listed at $5.15 per hour. However, most workers are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, which requires employers to pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. At the same time, the cost of attending college in the U.S. keeps climbing. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average annual cost of college, including tuition, books, supplies and living expenses, is $38,270 per student. For many students working part-time jobs, especially in fast food or retail, those wages make it hard to cover even basic expenses, let alone build meaningful savings for tuition. Balancing school and work often means juggling limited hours and inconsistent income — forcing tough decisions about whether to delay college or take on serious debt. 'I was thinking of taking a gap year because I didn't have money for school,' Baker told Mendoza's TikTok followers. 'But thank you to all of you now. I might actually go straight to technical college and get my mechanical (degree).' With the GoFundMe campaign now exceeding its $60,000 goal, Baker is one step closer to turning those college plans into reality. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Baker's story proves that even a part-time fast-food job can open doors — especially when paired with a strong work ethic and a willingness to go the extra mile. Showing up to work on graduation day wasn't just a sign of dedication. It was a message to others of his drive and determination. While most part-time workers won't end up in a viral video, the financial lesson still holds: even small paychecks can make a difference. Whether you're using them to cover day-to-day expenses, build an emergency fund or chip away at tuition costs, consistency matters. There are also ways to make those earnings work harder. For example, setting aside a portion of each paycheck into a high-yield savings account can help you take advantage of compounding interest. Even modest contributions — say, $100 a month — can grow over time. It's not just about saving. It's about putting your money in the right place so it continues to work for you. If you're passionate about a goal, don't be afraid to share your story. Scholarships and grants often come when people understand what you're striving for. Hard work rarely goes unnoticed — and sometimes, it pays off in ways you never expected. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I graduated then went to work a Burger King shift - now I'm $138,000 richer
A Georgia teenager working at Burger King just hours after his graduation ceremony last week caught the eye of a woman sitting in the drive-through line. Maria Mendoza, was impressed at how cheery he was to simply be doing his job, even right after graduating from high school. On a whim, she recorded the teen, Mykale Baker, putting together an order and posted it to TikTok with the caption: 'This young man deserves a scholarship.' That video got more than 4 million views, with many commenters prodding Mendoza to start a GoFundMe so people could donate to his college education. On Tuesday, Mendoza posted a follow-up video of her visiting the 18-year-old at the Burger King in Dacula and surprising him with the fundraiser, which at that point had raised just over $6,000. Upon learning that hundreds of strangers had donated to help him pursue an education, Baker broke down crying before hugging his mother and Mendoza. As of late Saturday afternoon, more than $138,000 has been raised for Baker. Now, thousands of well-meaning strangers have donated to make sure the youngster has a great future ahead of him. 'I just want to say thank you to my parents and all the people that see the good in me and believe in me, and donated all that money to me,' Baker said in an interview with 11Alive. Mendoza told the outlet that she was moved by Baker's work ethic and was inspired to repay him for being such a stand-up person. 'While many graduates spent the night celebrating with friends and family, one young man quietly showed the world what determination looks like,' Mendoza wrote on the GoFundMe description. 'Just after receiving his diploma - still proudly wearing his medals - he reported to his shift at Burger King. He didn't do it for attention. He doesn't even know his story went viral. But thousands of people were moved by his dedication, humility, and work ethic, she wrote. Mendoza later found out that he wasn't even scheduled to work that night, but volunteered to help out his coworkers because there was a huge rush after graduation. So, just hours after he walked the stage at Mills Creek High School, he was right back at Burger King to pitch in. 'He was so kind, so polite,' Mendoza told 11Alive. 'Radiating joy, even after such a big day. His dedication and quiet strength really moved me. I felt called to do something to recognize that.' 'I'm just grateful I got to do something for him,' she added. 'He inspired me.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Hardworking teen shows up for last-min Burger King shift in graduation outfit… before racking up $44k GoFundMe donations
A HARDWORKING high schooler showed up for a shift at Burger King just hours after his graduation - inspiring an onlooker to start a fundraiser for his college expenses. Mykale Baker was still wearing his graduation stole and medals when he got back to work at the fast food joint last week. 5 5 The 18-year-old from Georgia didn't follow his peers into post-graduation festivities, instead wasting no time in earning money towards his dream of going to college. But his strong work ethic caught the eye of Maria Mendoza, who posted a video on TikTok after she noticed his attire. She was moved by his decision to delay a well-earned break to work towards his dreams and decided to launch a GoFundMe to help bolster his college funds. The 20 second clip was soon viewed more than three million times. Mendoza wrote: "While many graduates spent the night celebrating with friends and family, one young man quietly showed the world what determination looks like. "Just after receiving his diploma — still proudly wearing his medals — he reported to his shift at Burger King. "He didn't do it for attention. He doesn't even know his story went viral. "But thousands of people were moved by his dedication, humility, and work ethic." Mendoza had just seen her own daughter graduate that same day when she spotted him hard at work in Burger King. Former homeless World's Strongest Man competitor shows his intense training as he bids for success in the USA She added: "Let's get together as a community and support this young kid. "All funds raised will go directly toward helping him with college tuition, books, supplies, and other educational needs. "Let's show him that the world is watching—and rooting for him." The fundraiser has now gathered nearly $45,000 for Baker to make his college dreams a reality. Mendoza returned to the same Burger King this week to present Baker with the donations. "His dedication and quiet strength really moved me. I felt called to do something to recognise that," she told local outlet 11 Alive. "I'm just grateful I got to do something for him." The teen was moved to tears at generosity, revealing the financial uncertainty he had felt after finishing high school. He told Mendoza's TikTok followers how much their kindness meant to him in an emotional message. "Thank you so much, I was thinking of taking a gap year because I didn't have money for school, but thank you to all of you now, I might actually go straight to technical college and get my mechanical," he said. "I never thought this would happen to me, I'm very thankful." 5
