As a teenager, it can be difficult to balance a job with school, an afternoon activity and a social life, but while there are struggles, having a job as a student can also be very impactful. Students at Spartanburg High School work hard to earn money, build character and learn important life skills that prepare them for the future.
Ligon Martin (10) works at Bruster’s and believes having a job as a teenager can be beneficial.
“I feel like having a job helps us learn to balance school and work because we’ll have to balance different things outside of school and when we graduate. It also helps us to understand the importance of managing money while our responsibilities are minimal. But honestly, it also can be really fun and is a good experience to have in meeting new people and building social skills,” Martin said.
Despite the benefits, there have been several studies questioning whether teens should really be working at such a young age. Many people believe that students cannot handle the stress of balancing work and their studies.
Ava Hrysikos (11) works at Chick-Fil-A and explains that though her work can push her to be successful, it is also difficult to maintain a steady balance.
“Sometimes it is stressful because I take three AP classes which require a lot of reading and even though I do most of my homework at school, I will have excess. I worry about having to stay up too late while doing homework,” Hrysikos said.
Teenagers typically work to earn money or learn important life skills, but it can also introduce them to future career ideas or things that they could be passionate about. Having a job can help teens determine what career they might want to pursue after college.
Sofia Hernandez (12) loves her work at Eastside Animal Hospital and believes it will benefit her in the future.
“I love working at Eastside Animal Hospital because of all the animals. Working there has helped me realize I want to go into the veterinary field,” Hernandez said.
This year, numerous seniors have already completed some of the credits required to graduate, meaning they may only have a certain number of class periods. This gives them less to stress about and more time to work.
Mary Curtis (12) works at Willy Taco and is one of those people. She believes in managing her time wisely while also enjoying her job and the people she works with.
“When it comes to balancing my job and school, it really just comes down to not taking too many shifts and making sure that I am not overworking myself,” Curtis said. “Over the summer, balancing my job with taking online classes and figuring out how to apply to college was very challenging and stressful, but I got through it, and it is not as bad now. I think having a job is beneficial to teenagers in that it gives them an outlet to meet new people, learn what making money is like, and helps them create a proper work ethic.”
Though it may be tough, students with jobs have discovered how to manage their time, learned life skills that will be important for them, built impressive character and sparked interests that have inspired their future careers. Even being a volunteer for a local event or doing internships and paid jobs can be beneficial for young minds ready to begin their journey in the real world.
