Did you have a job while you were in high school? Having a job used to be the most common thing that almost every high school student did in their spare time. They used to combine school and work during school time and work during the summer. They would make some extra money and often be able to pay for some of their college expenses. I believe that there are many benefits from having a job in high school, nowadays; and not just because of the money, but there are benefits that go beyond that. I believe that high school students should be required to have a job because, they gain experience, and time management skills, and learn the value of money. These benefits have long-lasting effects.
Having a job in high school can be a great experience in and of itself. I think the main reason for having a job is the experience that a student can gain, “...a part-time job teaches work ethic and soft skills from a young age.” (“It's Important for Young People to Have Jobs”). When high school students get a job for the first time, they learn new things from day one. They learn new skills, how to interact with coworkers, communicate with a boss, elaborate a resume, etc. “Although it might seem unrelated, scooping ice cream or working retail can make you a better doctor, accountant, teacher or benefit any other career path you might choose.” (“It's Important for Young People to Have Jobs”). We all make beginner mistakes in jobs, and if those mistakes are done early, students will be better employees later on. Having a job in high school will give students a big difference in experience, over peers with no work experience. A boss will more likely prefer a work experience candidate, over one with no work experience. I definitively believe, that all these qualities give high school students the advantage to stand out from other less or no experienced peers when applying for a future job.
There is another important quality that high school students can get; high school students that get a job are more likely to develop time management skills, or at least they can develop them earlier than those who don’t have a job. First of all, '… before getting a job, think about how you will handle juggling your work and schoolwork.' (“Ways to take control of time”). Students can get advice on what best work for them before they plan to work, maybe during their freshman year. Counselors, teachers, and parents can guide them, and eventually, students will learn to balance their school and work schedules. I think high school is the best time to take advantage of this opportunity, '…developing time-management skills now will help you in your college career and beyond (“Ways to take control of time”), and it will prepare students better. When students know how to manage their time, they get better organized in school, later in college, as professionals, and for the rest of their lives. They can get better jobs in college and beyond. They will also be able to handle more stressful jobs in the future. I believe that learning how to manage time at a young age can open wide doors in the future.
And last but not least is learning the value of money. High school students should have a job because, “…without a job, teenagers must rely on other people’s money…” (“Should Students Hold Jobs While in High School?”). Having a job gives high school students their own money. When they are making their own money, they are experiencing on their own how much effort it takes to earn each dollar they are getting. This helps them to have a better idea of how much things cost. This is how they understand the value of money; they are not just getting what they want from their parents without even knowing the effort it takes to earn it. They will probably be wiser spending their own money, or even better, they can be smarter and start saving for college expenses, gas, etc. And I know that they may not make a lot of money but, “… most high school students work low-income jobs that require little to no education. This can help make it clear that, to earn a good living, schooling is essential.” (“Should Students Hold Jobs While in High School?”). High school students are paid really low because they are not required to have a lot of knowledge. And by being paid that little can open their eyes, and see that if they want to make good money, they need to get a better education and keep studying. They will want to go to college so they can get paid better. I must say that knowing the value of money from a young is a really good skill that not many know at this age.
Many people think that high school students should not work after school because it takes away time to study. They think that they should spend their time on reading and self-improvement instead. I do not agree with their way of thinking. I know it is not easy to work and study at the same time, and I’m sure it’s hard, especially at the beginning. Even though, I’m convinced that having a job in high school can be more rewarding than hurting, “… holding down a job can make students feel more capable than they might otherwise feel” (“Should Students Hold Jobs While in High School?”), because they gain confidence and mature earlier. A high school senior, says that working at McDonald’s has helped her to grow as a person, “… honestly, before I got this job, my attitude was bad. I thought I knew everything …” (“Ways to take control of time”), she says. “Learning … that there is always room to learn more has helped me mature …” (“Ways to take control of time”). As you can see, there are some crucial qualities that high school students can only get by having a job. While it is true that a job requires time and dedication, having a job as a high school student can be beneficial in so many rewarding ways.
For all these reasons high school students should have a job during high school. I believe high school students should be encouraged to have a job because of the experience they can gain, time management skills, and the value of money. There is no better opportunity than having a job while in high school to experience real life, make beginner mistakes, and overall become more responsible for themselves. It helps to become independent, and experienced, feel more self-confident, and handle a higher level of responsibility by the time students get into college. This is the reason why I would like to let my school board, teachers, and parents know, that working while in high school is a vital part of the growth of a high school student. It helps us to be able to succeed in high school, in our college career, and for the rest of our lives because it challenges us. It helps us in our future jobs; it makes us better future employees or self-employees. I ask your parent, teacher, school board, or employer, to support high school students who work while they learn. I ask you to be understanding of the situation and guide us to make sure we are successful. I ask you to encourage us to practice both activities to become better citizens. Thank you for your support.
Works Cited
“Eight Ways to Take Control of Your Time.” Balancing High School and Part-Time Work. www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org/. Accessed 11 May 2020.
Lawton, Stephen. “Part-Time Work and the High School Student: Costs, Benefits, and Future. A Review of the Literature and Research Needs.” Microsoft Academic. 1994. www.academic.microsoft.com/. Accessed 11 May 2020.
“Should Students Hold Jobs While in High School?” Walden University. 2020. www.waldenu.edu/. Accessed 11 May 2020.
'Why It's Important for Young People to Have Part-Time Jobs.' The Center for Work Ethic Development. 2018. www.workethic.org/. Accessed 11 May 2020.