A life-changing Labor Day surprise
A Walmart employee in California experienced the surprise of a lifetime when a last-minute shift led to a $1 million lottery win. Rebeca Gonzalez, who worked at the City of Industry Walmart, covered for a coworker during the busy Labor Day weekend, a decision that would change her life forever.
A lucky scratch-off
After her shift, Gonzalez purchased a scratch-off lottery ticket—a habit she had picked up from her father. She typically bought two tickets a month, never expecting to win more than small prizes. However, this time was different. Using a $10 bill leftover from her daughter’s ice purchase, she bought a ticket that would make her a millionaire.
“I’ve only told one person at work, and it was the manager who wanted me to stay late on a holiday,” Gonzalez shared with the Los Angeles Times. “He couldn’t believe it.”
The win allowed Gonzalez to immediately start pursuing her dreams. She has already given her two-week notice at Walmart to focus on her education, as she plans to become a radiologist. She also used her winnings to clear most of her debts and has put in a bid on a five-bedroom home for her family.
Her family, overwhelmed with emotion, celebrated the news. “When I told them, they just started crying,” Gonzalez said.
The store where Gonzalez purchased her winning ticket also benefited, receiving $5,000 for selling the million-dollar scratch-off.
A moment to remember
Security footage captured Gonzalez’s euphoric reaction when the state lottery commission verified her win at a local liquor store. She celebrated by jumping up and down and thanked God for what she described as a “blessing.”
With her financial burdens eased and a new chapter on the horizon, Gonzalez’s story is a testament to the unexpected ways life can change. “The change from a shaved ice changed my life,” she remarked with a laugh.