Many students have a full-time job or part-time job over the summer or during the school year; some even both. Some do it for the extra spending money or to help pay for college. Others have a bigger responsibility and may even have to put food on the table and provide for their families. In both cases students have varying jobs and feelings about their jobs and workplace. They also have different goals and aspirations and reasons why they work.

Many students work only part time during the summer, choosing to work for the extra money to be able to do things and buy things over the summer, and maybe save some money for during the school year. Senior Matt Beatty agrees, saying, “I just do it for the money.” He worked retail at American Eagle earlier this school year, but says he really did not enjoy it. “I don’t like cleaning up after people”, was one of his reasons. In his future career, Matt wants to actually enjoy what he does, and wants to have respect from his boss and colleagues.

Benji Andrews is another student at Lafayette who works part time over the summer, at Williamsburg Montessori School. He says he doesn’t mind it but “there’s not a lot of free time.” On the other hand, his friend TJ works there with him so he has “more fun while working.” Jake Clark is another example. He works as a busser at Blue Talon over the summer, but says he doesn’t entirely enjoy it. According to Jake, they pay well, but “it’s hard work and very tiring.” Later in life, he wants something he actually enjoys doing and that makes him a good salary.

I personally like working part time over the summer as a lifeguard as well as a swim coach at Queens Lake. I enjoy being outside all day and hanging out with my friends who come to the pool when I am not on duty. It doesn’t pay a lot, but it’s enough for me to have the spending money I want for fun summer activities. It also allows me to have responsibility and I know it will help me when I get a real job later in life. I will already have the skills and knowledge on how to be an employee and I will know how to manage and save my money.

Some students have time during the school year for a part-time job. These students most likely do not play a sport, or just work in the off season; Sierra Long is one of those students. She is on the varsity soccer team at Lafayette, but worked part time at Panera until the season began. She too says she does it mainly for the money. Even though the money is nice, she says, “It sucks not having weekends.” That’s the price that students have to pay for having a job: not much of a social life. Tristen Packer is another student who works part time over the school year. He has to pay for his own gas and food when he goes out so he works to have money to spend on those things. “Its hard work for very little pay,” he says, and “it’s hard to fit in homework too.” Being a full time student and also having a job puts a lot more stress on students, but having the extra cash is worth it to many.

Many students have ample time in the world for full-time jobs in the summer. Many businesses will hire high school students over the summer because there are plenty of them looking for jobs and they don’t have to pay them as much as an adult full-time worker. Connor Wrann worked full time at Ben and Jerry’s last summer, again, for the money. He didn’t entirely enjoy working there as he explains, “An eight our work day is tiring and that place got busy.” This summer he plans on lifeguarding in the hopes of still making plenty of money. It’s very rare but, some students are able to work full time during the school year as well as during the summer. Chandler Fox is the only student who has a nearly full-time schedule. She works at American Eagle and has for quite some time now. “I love the company itself and how I’m treated, the friends I’ve made and the people I’ve met, and the financial independence from my parents,” Chandler says. “It’s a job. It’s not my favorite place to be but I don’t hate my life when I’m there. I’ll be sad to leave.”

Getting a job, for most students, is a choice and they aren’t forced to do it. We will look further into the life of students who have to help pay for food and living for their family in a follow up article. Most others are lucky and simply do it because they want to have money for things that they want. Many of them probably don’t realize it now but, having a job in high school and learning how to have responsibilities will help a great deal down the road when it comes time to get a real job and make real money, hopefully in a career doing something that they love.