A record 115,000 New York City students live in temporary housing, according to state data published by Advocates for Children. At some schools, more than 40% of students are considered homeless. City and school officials have been vocal about this crisis, but solutions will likely take time. To better understand the challenges homeless students face and how best to support them in the classroom, we sat down with Amya Shaw, a high school senior who has lived in and out of shelters since she was nine years old.

You can read a text version of Amya’s story at YCTeen.org, where it was originally published.

To learn more about the homelessness crisis, check out Advocates for Children and Coalition for the Homeless.