For many high school students entering their teenage years means more responsibility on their behalf. With more freedom to hang out with friends, it often involves going to spend some money. As kids get older there are more expenses, whether gas for your car or food with friends. Kids need to find a balance between schoolwork and working on the clock.
High school can be tough with extracurricular activities and sports that most students participate in, but there are times when students want free time. I believe it is crucial to obtain work experience in your high school career, whether it’s something as simple as dog walking or working at your local ice cream shop. As someone who has had more than three jobs throughout high school, it has taught me spending habits as well as life lessons.
With jobs being beneficial to students financially they also are a good look for college admissions and it can show how mature you are being able to balance school and work a part-time job. Many people think jobs may hold a restriction on free time, but many jobs often allow you to fill out a schedule of days and times you are available.
According to The UNC School of Medicine, “teenage work experience is linked to personal growth. It helps building and leads to higher-paying future jobs. Inappropriate jobs, teens learn valuable skills, time management and develop confidence in their abilities.” With all these positive outcomes, it looks very beneficial to teenagers.
Working in a customer service job like one of my first jobs, a pizza kitchen or the well-known Nothing Bundt Cakes, you learn the famous saying “the customer is always right.” I dealt with many angry customers who were unhappy about the time it took to make a pizza, or didn’t like the decoration on their cake. It taught me how to deal with stressful situations in a timely manner. It also taught me etiquette when handling customers.
These jobs can sometimes be a handful but has been such a good learning experience dealing with angry customers who were unhappy with their pizza and cakes. These experiences and opportunities also can serve a purpose on your college resume.
Working a job can prepare you for the real world as in college you start to become more financially responsible on your own. In the real world, adults are faced with insurance and more bills they have to pay on their own, a job is ultimately the end goal for most so why not start early and get some experience?
When you’re driving to work in your car freshly filled with gas, think about how hard you worked for this. It can be refreshing to see how your hard work has paid off and how it will help you along the way in life. So apply for that job and go to that interview. It could help you more than you know.
