Many high school students are balancing part-time jobs alongside classes, sports, and homework, gaining real-world experience while learning responsibility and time management skills.
Part-time jobs are becoming more common among high school students for financial and personal reasons. However, managing work hours alongside academic and extracurricular activities can be difficult, but there are also many pros that students appreciate about having a job. With the percentage fluctuating year to year based on different economic levels and regions, roughly around 30-40% of high school students have a part-time job, according to CollegeVine.com.
Freshman Earnest Corzine works with his family at the restaurant Burtolini’s On The Hill as a busser.
“It’s kind of a family thing since pretty much my whole family was in the business,” Corzine said.
A lot of students work in the food service industry because those are the jobs that hire high school students the most.
Junior Phoenyx Johnson didn’t have to look too much for a job, because her job came to her.
“Brenna Gaines, [ a former HHS student], worked there, and I developed a [friendship] with her last year, and she was like ‘hey, would you like a Job?’ and I was like ‘yeah, sure’ because I was getting around the age where my grandparents were [telling me to get a job].”
Most students have certain availability requirements to ensure they can stay in accommodation while maintaining their academic life alongside a job.
“I make sure on my schedule that Monday, Tuesday, [and] Wednesday, I don’t work those days,” Senior, Jess Gowan said. “Those are strictly for school, like catching up on schoolwork and stuff.”
Even with structured schedules, balancing work and school can still be a challenge.
“Sometimes Friday might be a struggle just because I have to get out of school, and then get ready to clock into work right away,” Earnest said.
Other students manage their work and school life in other ways.
“I try to do all of my work in school [so] most of my off time can be either at work or sleeping,” Johnson said.
Despite the challenges, many students are motivated to work by personal goals and responsibilities
[My pay] goes towards some of my personal things like…. My Spotify subscriptions, and then sometimes I help my sister out with the phone bill,” Johnson said. “Most of the time, it goes into my savings, though.”
Earning a paycheck sometimes represents other values for working students.
“Independence [is my motivation] because once you get your own source of revenue, there’s not a lot holding you back,” Gowan said.
In addition to financial and personal motivation, students also find enjoyment in other aspects of their job.
“I work with two of my friends who go to [our school],” Gowan said. “I can see my friends in school, and then at work… it for sure takes a lot of the stress off.”
Many students would say the social aspect of their job is what they enjoy the most.
“My favorite part about working is getting to talk to people there, like customers, or just talking to my co-workers that work with me; they are always fun to chat with,” Corzine said.
For some students, like Alisa Gibbs, who works at the Soda Fountain, their job can be a positive outlet for them.
“Being able to work with people I enjoy being around and being in a good work environment, helps a lot when I’m having a hard day or week,” Senior Alisa Gibbs said.
Based on their experiences, students have offered advice to other high schoolers looking into getting jobs.
“Stay focused [in school], and you’ll get the majority [of your work] done here,” Johnson said. “Just try to stay organized and keep up to date with everything, and plan ahead.”
Other students stress the importance of knowing your limits before taking on a job.
“If you have a job and you end up hurting your high school career, it’s not worth it,” Gowan said. “Just make sure that you are mentally and physically prepared for having a job and [balancing] school at the same time.”
