{"id":698,"date":"2017-03-21T02:46:35","date_gmt":"2017-03-21T02:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/changing-face-schools\/?p=698"},"modified":"2017-03-21T02:49:23","modified_gmt":"2017-03-21T02:49:23","slug":"this-student-gets-through-tough-times-thanks-to-her-softball-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/changing-face-schools\/2017\/03\/21\/this-student-gets-through-tough-times-thanks-to-her-softball-team\/","title":{"rendered":"This Student Gets Through Tough Times Thanks To Her Softball Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Duncanville High School has undergone big demographic changes in recent years. Today, about 70 percent of the students are considered economically disadvantaged \u2014 students like\u00a0Rykeyia Branch. The high school senior is juggling classes with a part-time job and her role as manager of the Panthers softball team.<\/em><\/p>\n

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‘I don’t want to be selfish’<\/h5>\n

From the moment the game begins, Duncanville\u2019s softball team chants — and doesn’t stop. Rykeyia Branch joins in, sometimes leading the cheers.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d rather be playing, but she missed the cut. The coach asked her to be the manager, so she handles equipment and keeps the box scores.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt loved,” she said. “But I was like, ‘no, I don\u2019t want to sit in stands cheering for someone else.’ … I wanted to be someone on the field. I didn\u2019t want to be in the stands.”<\/p>\n

But she came to terms with cheering for others.<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t want to be selfish,” she said.<\/p>\n

She can\u2019t afford to be. The 17-year-old carries a lot of responsibilities.<\/p>\n

\"Rykevia

Rykeyia “Rocky” Branch, left, and team trainer Maira Martinez walk onto DeSoto’s baseball field. Photo\/Samantha Guzman<\/p><\/div>\n

At home, she helps her mother, who’s divorced, take care of younger brother Ryderius. She gets up at 5:30 in the morning and takes him to school. After class, Rykeyia, who goes by Rocky, is a part-time cashier. She helps support her family.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom, she doesn\u2019t have a job,” Rocky says. “We get a child support check. But sometimes you just have to use that to pay for the bills, so we won\u2019t get evicted. So sometimes that doesn\u2019t leave enough in the budget for us to like have food. Sometimes we fall on hard times.\u201d<\/p>\n

“I didn\u2019t want to be in the stands. But I don\u2019t have a problem cheering for someone else. I don\u2019t want to be selfish.”
Rykeyia Branch, Duncanville student<\/div>
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\"Rykevia

Rykeyia “Rocky” Branch cheers on the Duncanville varsity softball team from the dugout. Photo\/Samantha Guzman<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

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A tough home life<\/h5>\n

Recently, her family was evicted from their apartment. Rocky\u2019s faced hard times at work, too. She says she was cheated \u2014 repeatedly \u2014\u00a0out of a paycheck.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy manager, she got my time card and she changed my times from when I clocked and clocked out. I saw it, and I was like \u2018What? What are you? I didn\u2019t work 22 hours; I worked 40 hours,’ Rocky says. “She tried to steal my time and take my money and I can\u2019t do that I because need all the money I worked for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Players

Players on the Duncanville varsity softball team get ready for their game against DeSoto High School. Photo\/Samantha Guzman<\/p><\/div>\n

Rocky’s mother, Melissa Branch, said she wanted to “go beat up” her daughter’s manager, but Rocky asked her not to.<\/p>\n

Branch and her daughter\u00a0don\u2019t always get along. Branch\u00a0says Rocky and her brother don\u2019t always get along, either.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe arguing gets on my nerves,” Branch says. “They do good for a couple days and then it\u2019s something and it just irritates me. Because that\u2019s not how families are supposed to be. They\u2019re supposed to be tight. They\u2019re supposed to have each other\u2019s back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rocky says home life is tough. It\u2019s tough for a lot of students at Duncanville High. About 70 percent of the student population is\u00a0economically disadvantaged.<\/p>\n

Economically Disadvantaged Students Over 20 Years<\/h6>\n