It’s hard to juggle going to school, completing homework, working to get that little bit of extra money, and having a life. Not to mention the time you have to put into a sport or activity. Some teens wonder whether that extra throw-around money is actually worth it. Others have no choice but to work; they have to pay for their car, gas, cell phone, or whatever bills they are responsible for. Ladelle and I sometimes have issues working friends, family, and outside hobbies into our schedules.
In looking ahead to my adult life, knowing it will be filled with work, I often think I’m wasting my time working now when I should be out being a kid while I still can. Some adults in my family tell that, too. I don’t quit though because I like the challenge of having to handle more than one activity in my life. It will also look good on a college application.
Some of the more important issues I face at work are my boss wanting me to work on a holiday or at inconvenient hours and having to stay up late to finish my homework after getting home from work.
School comes first, but with having a job comes related responsibilities, so you have to balance the responsibilities of both work and school.
Your boss counts on you to be able to do your job when he needs you. If you are thinking about applying somewhere, be sure to tell the boss up front the hours and the days you can work so they know before hiring you when you're available.
If you think your schedule might change, and your hours will become more flexible, tell them that as well. Most employers will understand that a teenager has a tough schedule to follow and will often work around that schedule. They usually accept that school and extracurricular activities come first. If they don’t, then maybe the place that you’re applying to isn’t a good fit for you.
If you do have a job and you find yourself in a situation in which your schoolwork and your work responsibilities conflict, ask yourself: is the assignment for school too important to sacrifice for work? If it is, you may have to call off work. I wouldn’t want my grades to fall because I’m working too much at a part-time job at a fast food restaurant because my chances of getting into a good college would drop along with my grades.
Ask yourself whether you have enough room to fit a part-time job into your life. What do you want your future to be like?
By, Cali
I really enjoyed this post. I found it very relateable. I had a job in the past and I know how tough it is to balance all of your various activities, your job, and your schoolwork. My parents and I found that for me, it was best if I didn't keep my job. Because of my job, I had to choose between activities that I love and my job. I was wondering though, would it be good to try and look for a job during the summer then?
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing what it's like for students who work, have activities, and a lot of school work.
-Louise
You're welcome. I think it would be a good idea to have a summer job, but that's only if you want to give up your free time for some extra money. You would also have to put in the time to look for a place that's hiring only for summer. Good luck!
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