11th-grader working two jobs to support family says she's too exhausted to make it to class


A 17-year-old high school student working two jobs to support her siblings, while juggling college-level classes, spent 24 hours in jail this week for missing too much school, KHOU 11 News reported.

Diane Tran, an 11th-grader at Willis High School in Willis, Texas said she was often too exhausted to get to school in time.

Judge Lanny Moriarty said he warned the student last month not to miss any more classes or she would be violating truancy law, KHOU 11 News reported. When she missed school again, he had her thrown in jail.

"If you let one run loose, what are you gonna do with the rest of 'em? Let them go too?" Judge Moriarty asked the TV station.

Tran said her parents divorced unexpectedly and left town, leaving it up to her to support her younger sister, who lives with relatives, and her brother's university education, KHOU 11 News reported.

Tran works full-time at a dry cleaner and weekends at Waverly Manor wedding venue, where she lives with the family that owns the business.

At school she takes several advanced placement and college-level courses, often staying up all night, a classmate, coworker and friend of Tran's told the TV station.

Judge Moriarty admitted he was using Tran as an example. Willis High School has a warning about truancy violation on its website .

According to Texas truancy law students can have no more than 10 unexcused absences - full days or part days - within six months, and no more than three absences within one month.