Photos of my life as a teen essential worker, supporting my family
Morgen White: "This is a photo of me getting ready for work in the morning. I work at Trader Joe’s in Ballard, in Seattle. I always put my mask on before I leave the house."
KUOW photo/Morgen White
Morgen White is an 18 year old from Seattle who works at Trader Joe's in Ballard to help support her family during the coronavirus pandemic.
Morgen, who recently graduated from Ballard High School, chronicled her life during these past months -- from working at a grocery store, to graduating, to accompanying her mom, a dog walker, to the park.
These are her photos.
I skateboard to work. It's a 45-minute walk, but a 20-minute skate. That includes a stop at Jumpin’ Jimmy’s coffee.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
Before I go into Trader Joe’s for my work shift, I often have enough time to sit and drink my coffee. I listen to music to get into the right headspace.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
A glimpse of one of my managers cleaning carts. Cleaning the carts has taken on new importance during the coronavirus pandemic. We are considered essential workers, because grocery stores are necessary.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
Lines at Trader Joe’s are always longer when I leave work for the day, around 4pm. I wave goodbye to the people assigned to the door that hour. The crew members on door clean carts and determine when people in the line can come into the store.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
After work, I gather my clothes into a confined area and take a shower. Here, my clothes and mask are ready for me to take them downstairs to the washing machine.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
I watch my mom pick up Copper the dog from his owner. My mom is a dog walker. They are socially distanced and wearing masks. Copper lives in an apartment, making pick-up more tricky. Copper is excited and flailing around because he hasn’t seen us in a while.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
Sometimes I accompany my mom to the dog park at Magnuson Beach in Seattle. A mess of leashes, but she manages to keep them organized. The parking lots are closed, so we must park quite a ways from the dog park, and then walk in.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
My mom offers me hand sanitizer after I touch the gate at the Magnuson Park dog park. She is frustrated because I take pictures instead.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
My mom holds balloons at a block party graduation. Graduation parties have taken on a new flavor in the pandemic. Most are outside, and more intimate.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
Two neighborhood kids (Scarlett, with balloon, and Sipriana, wearing a graduation cap) watch the socially distanced graduation celebration on the block. Scarlett’s shirt says super, and she wears a cape.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
Lydia Urrutia, a fellow Ballard graduate, struts her stuff while a neighbor in the background claps her on.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
This street in Phinney Ridge, a Seattle neighborhood, has turned into a celebration for graduates after school graduations were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Ballard graduate Lukas Ramakrishnan walks down the street, transformed for the moment into a walkway for graduates, with supporters lining the sidewalks.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
Gabe Paris-Moe, a graduate of Seattle Prep, stands with his family in the background. The large group is hard to organize.
KUOW photo/Morgen White
This photo essay was created by advanced participants of KUOW's RadioActive program for young people, with production support from Lila Lakehart. Edited by Isolde Raftery.
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Support for KUOW's RadioActive comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center.
