Jhaqueil Reagan: Teen Walks 10 Miles in Snow, Gets Job at Papa Roux

In February 2013, 18-year-old Jhaqueil Reagan set out on foot through snow in Indianapolis, Indiana, heading for a job interview about ten miles from home. He could not afford the bus fare. By the end of the day he had a job, offered by a restaurant owner who stopped to help him on the road.

Jhaqueil Reagan's walk through the Indianapolis snow

Reagan was walking from 42nd and Post to an interview at 10th and Sherman for a minimum-wage position. Along the way he stopped and asked a stranger how much farther he had to go. The answer was six or seven miles. He did not ask for a ride or for bus money.

The man he asked was Art Bouvier, owner of Papa Roux, a Cajun po' boy restaurant in Indianapolis. About 15 minutes after passing him, Bouvier and his wife pulled over and drove Reagan the rest of the way to his interview.

Art Bouvier's job offer at Papa Roux

Bouvier was struck by the young man's attitude. "It's been a while since I met someone so young with a work ethic like that," he wrote afterwards. He then called Reagan and offered him a cashier's job at Papa Roux, which also cut his commute to about three miles.

"I appreciate you trudging through the snow, so now you can trudge here," Bouvier told him. Reagan started work the following Monday.

Speaking to local station WLFI, Reagan said he was "so surprised, awestruck" when he heard about the offer. Reagan had lost his mother when he was 17 and said he learned his work ethic from his father.

Reagan's advice to other job seekers

When the story spread nationally, Reagan and Bouvier were interviewed together on TheBlaze TV. Reagan summed up his approach simply: "It's all about perseverance and getting out there."

The story caught on because both people did something small and decent. Reagan kept going in cold weather to reach an interview for a modest job, and Bouvier noticed, stopped and then made room for him on his own staff.

Walking long distances in snow and cold

A ten-mile walk in winter takes three to four hours at a normal pace, and longer on icy pavements. Dress in layers, keep your head, hands and feet covered and dry, and wear boots with good grip. Snow and ice make walking far more tiring, and a long cold walk can leave you chilled even when you feel warm from the effort, so carry water and a snack and take short breaks somewhere sheltered.

Explore more stories of people helping each other: The Tutu Project: Bob and Linda Carey’s Shared Photographic Story, a hiker's rescue of a puppy from a slot canyon and Duracell’s Montreal Bus Shelter: Warmth as a Cooperative Campaign.

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