It is 5 a.m. and Ifetayo Frye is behind the counter at Dunkin’ on NW 14th Street in Miami, across the street from Jackson UHealth, wearing a smile and helping manage cashiers and baristas as they take orders for iced coffee, mocha swirl cappuccino, and donuts from doctors, nurses, and UM medical students.
Frye is 19 years old and was recently promoted to shift leader. She wakes up at 4:15 a.m. and takes an Uber from Coconut Grove to work because she doesn’t have a car and the Metrorail doesn’t run that early. She works five to six days a week, from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., takes the train home, and juggles three online classes at Miami Dade College.
At first glance, she may seem like just another hard-working college student, but her customers and classmates have no idea of all that Frye has overcome…