Concept Exercise 1

Dashing for a Dime: Gig Work Lining College Students Pockets

How one Gen Zer is using Doordash to pay his rent. 

By Maddison Freeman, Amirah Zeidat, Valeria Casadevall Tessman

For many college-age Americans, independence is a goal that often collides with financial reality. Rising costs for housing, groceries and transportation have left many students living paycheck to paycheck.

Ezekiel Alvarado, 21, a former college student in the Houston area near the Second Ward, now relies on DoorDash as his primary source of income. Like many people ages 18 to 24, he has struggled to keep up with increasing expenses. Apartment costs have risen to the point where living alone is out of reach for most students, forcing many to rely on roommates. Alvarado shares housing with three others to split rent and bills.

Ezekiel Alvarado Doordashing  Feb. 24, 2026 / Maddison Freeman

Financial strain is widespread. Data from the National College Health Assessment shows that 75% of U.S. students experienced moderate to high financial distress in the past year. Research from 2024 estimates that about 30% of students drop out of college, with financial uncertainty cited as a leading cause.

Alvarado said his financial situation has been stressful and frustrating. He left school because he could not afford tuition, even after receiving federal financial aid during his first year. “Sad. I feel like a loser,” he said, reflecting on how his current circumstances differ from what he once envisioned.

Alvarado began working for DoorDash in October 2025 to supplement income from a full-time job. After losing that job earlier this year, he turned to food delivery full time. For the past two months, he has worked consistently to make ends meet.

Losing his job was difficult, he said, but he tries to stay prepared for setbacks. “When it comes to any sort of failure, I brace myself,” he said. “I prepare myself for a multitude of outcomes.”

Ezekiel Alvarado Red Mazda, used for Doordashing  Feb. 24, 2026 / Maddison Freeman

People close to Alvarado describe him as positive and resilient. His roommate, Marc Rojas, said Alvarado has been working steadily since leaving school in fall 2023 and called him “the life of the party.” His boyfriend, Samuel Nolty, said the delivery job has given Alvarado exposure to different communities and living conditions.

Despite ongoing financial challenges, Alvarado said he focuses on staying productive rather than dwelling on stress. He said he enjoys driving and uses the time to listen to music or podcasts. “I’m my own boss,” he said. The job also exposes him to new places and perspectives, though income can fluctuate between $18 and $22 an hour, with tips remaining inconsistent.

His experience has also shifted his perspective on gig work. “Now that I’m on the other side, it really has made me empathize with DoorDashers,” he said.

Alvarado grew up in a low-income household in Ba

ytown and Anahuac, Texas, sharing a room with four siblings. His family’s home was destroyed during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. He said financial hardship has been a constant in his life, though he did not fully recognize it as a child.

Alvarado’s story reflects a broader reality for many young adults navigating rising costs and financial instability while trying to build independent lives.