When the last school bell rings, many teens take advantage of this time to relax, but others get ahead to make some extra money. Summer jobs are extremely common among high school students. You can see them all around town, at local ice cream shops and pools as lifeguards. Not every student likes to do what’s expected, but rather some will take the untraditional route. Interests and hobbies all influence the choices, allowing teens to hold a position that they actually enjoy. From the water to the land, or make it a field, these students take pride in the most interesting work environments.
Elaina Keagle ’27
Shhh! Quiet in the library. Through the rows of books you will find Elaina Keagle ’27 organizing, cleaning and assisting. Keagle spends her days with one of her many interests, reading, while also getting real-life job experience. She is already a pro at this though, as it’s nothing new.
“I learned about my job at the library through the librarian at Pierce Middle School,” Keagle said. “I volunteered there before I got my role as a librarian assistant at Central Library.”
Keagle doesn’t mind spending her time inside, enjoying the peace and precision that comes with her role.
“My favorite part of the job is helping strangers,” Keagle said. “I love creating connections and helping people find a book that they thoroughly enjoy.”
Besides helping others, Keagle spends her hours constantly shelving books and reorganizing areas.
“The work can be tedious, especially during the holidays, but it’s worth it,” Keagle said.
Reid Lenglet ’28
Running across the field and whistle blowing, for the summer, Reid Lenglet ’28 isn’t the one playing, but instead the one analyzing. As a skilled soccer player, Lenglet wanted to bring his interests into a job, refereeing seemed to be the perfect fit. With his connections, he was able to get the job.
“I heard about the opportunities from my friends that are already referees for USA Soccer,” Lenglet said. “And because I play soccer, I thought it would be something I would enjoy.”
For Lenglet, this turned out to be true. After doing it for over a year, he has found entertainment and excitement within the job, and the well compensated pay is also a bonus.
“I definitely make a good amount of money per game, if you look at it hourly it’s well over minimum wage,” Lenglet said. “It’s nice knowing I make this money doing something I already understand so well.”
It sounds like the perfect job, but it isn’t always smooth sailing for Lenglet, especially when adults get involved.
“There is a negative side, though, we can get yelled at a lot,” Lenglet said. “By parents and coaches, all just for one call they thought was unfair.”
With this job along with lots of other sports, Lenglet stays busy in the summer. Sometimes conflicts arise, but he’s able to handle them and still do everything he wants to.
“There’s really not a limit on how much you work, it’s a summer flexible schedule which makes it great when I’m busy,” Lenglet said.
Claire Hathaway ’27
Claire Hathaway ’27 will be spending her time on the water in a different way. Rather than lying on the boat, she’ll be pumping their gas. This job will be completely new to her, but she wants to take on this interesting opportunity.
“I heard about the job at Len’s Gas Dock from my family friends,” Hathaway said.” I was in need of a job, so I thought I might as well try something different.”
Hathaway’s role includes pumping gas, cleaning and reorganizing the store. The work can add up, but she’s ready for a challenge.
“There is definitely a lot that has to be done during shifts, but the people make it all a positive,” Hathaway said. “I’m able to connect with the customers and meet new visitors daily, which is all worth it in the end.”
