Maturity kicks in when it comes to work, school

Brandon Galvan is a student at IMPACT Early College High School.

“A lot of people think I’m older than 16, but I don’t feel like it. I’ve been handed alcoholic beverages before, but I say, ‘Hey, I’m only 16, man. I don’t want you to get in trouble.’ I think it’s kind of cool and flattering in some sense. Maybe it’s my build or my facial hair that fools them.”

Do you consider yourself a mature person?
“I think so, although I can turn it off and on. For instance, I was just playing Pokémon Go. And I really like funny-looking backpacks, video games and stuff like that. I can be pretty immature sometimes. But when it comes to school and work, I can just (snaps his finger) turn on the switch and be mature. I think it has a lot to do with parenting. My dad told me, ‘If you have a job to do, do it. If you don’t do it right, they’re not going to trust you to do the job again.’ I haven’t forgotten that.”

— Brandon Galvan