India, April 4 -- Making it in New York City often takes persistence, creativity and a bit of luck. For Ashley Alicea, all three have played a role in reshaping her finances and career. As reported by CNBC, the 33 year old, who grew up in the city before returning in 2020, has gone from earning about $50,000 a year as a preschool teacher to making roughly $90,000 annually at a charter school. She now also earns $55 an hour through a side hustle in mental health counselling.

(Also read: Rs.2 crore loan, no jobs: Indian family's US dream turns into debt trap)

Alicea's journey reflects the financial pressures many teachers face. CNBC noted that roughly 60% of teachers took out student loans for their education, while nearly 40% still carry...