I recently joined the ranks of youth workers, meaning that now, like some IHS students, I have a part-time job. There are many reasons to take a part-time job: for the money, for the resume-building experience, for something to do. However, one must ultimately weigh the costs of working during the school year with the benefits. Are the hours spent at work instead of with friends or studying worth it?
Without a doubt, a job during the school year is worth it. Although most high school–aged employees make minimum wage, as financial dependents, for the most part we are not counting on our earnings to support us. Instead, the money allows young people to rely less on their parents for pocket money while also learning how to manage money better. It is definitely more difficult to part ways with one’s money when one knows exactly how many difficult customers one had to deal with to earn that money. Through my job, I was also exposed to the realities of taxes for the first time, and also received the option of setting aside a certain percentage of my wages for retirement. While I chose not to start saving for retirement just yet, it was certainly a reminder of the huge responsibilities awaiting me once I turn 18 that I would not have received without my job.
As a senior currently going through the college application process, I am also undeniably reaping the benefits of adding a job to my resume. Discussions with admissions counselors have alerted me to the fact that it is not as common as one may think these days for students to have part-time jobs, as they often choose to focus on grades, sports, or clubs instead. Having a job during the summer or school year shows good time-management skills and makes a student stand out.
Lastly, a job offers something interesting to do. Unless one is employed on an assembly line (which is highly unlikely, between the dearth of blue-collar jobs and abundance of child labor laws), work provides a distraction from the academic concerns that preoccupy students during the week. When I am at work, I can stop thinking about the demographic transition model and level of biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in Fall Creek and instead focus on learning new skills, like using an espresso machine. My job gives me opportunities to diversify my skill set and an escape from the academic minutiae that sometimes buries me when I get sucked into schoolwork.
Although my diminished free time occasionally forces me to prioritize in undesirable ways, I am happy to be part of the young workforce. When it comes down to it, the benefits of working outweigh the detriments.