The final bell has rung, and you’re finally done with another demanding seven-hour school day. What better way to spend your free time than rushing straight to your minimum wage job, throwing on an apron, and serving customers for the rest of the day? This is the reality for many students. Working as a high school student can allow for financial liberty and independence, but it can potentially take a turn for the worse. As is, students struggle with balancing social life, studying, extracurriculars, and most importantly, sleep. Plugging an entire work schedule into the equation only makes all of these harder to navigate. But what is to be expected of us?
As a student athlete and restaurant server, I can fully agree that there is plenty of pressure that comes with working a job. Although I wasn’t pressured into employment by my family, I was influenced by friends around me. I wanted the responsibility. However, with time, I’ve noticed how almost impossible it is to keep up with school and my social life. I’m constantly feeling overwhelmed.
Working four to five days a week can be completely draining at times. But it doesn’t beat that paycheck at the end of the week. A thin piece of paper, encased in an envelope, that screams “INDEPENDENCE!” It encourages me to continue working the hours I work. Getting that paycheck gives you a purpose, your own liberty, something that is yours and no one else’s. Working a job as a high school student is conflicting to say the least, but working hard and earning the title as a contributing member of society is a feeling that can’t be matched as a teenager.
But my experience is one of many. There are so many different businesses, expectations, and personalities that can warp the understanding of working as a high schooler. Agoura student Jayden Pollon, a former restaurant server and current boutique employee, sheds light on her background.
“I was pressured a lot by my mom to get a job, and it made the overall experience really stressful because job hunting is not a smooth nor a quick process,” said Pollon.
The pressure can develop through parent expectations, but also through other factors.
“Apart from my mom’s expectations, I find that not having a job also makes me feel incompetent compared to my peers,” said Pollon.
Leo Cavallaro, a CHS student and employee at Boarders in Topanga Mall, explains his perspective.
“I felt pressure on myself. I knew I had to start making money, so I found that inner drive to get a job,” said Cavallaro.
Some students battle with balancing school and social life, but others find it easier to draw boundaries between work and life outside of it. Another statement taken from Jayden Pollon.
“Working has not made school any more stressful for me because I handle my school work well. It has also helped me to compartmentalize and separate the two, so that I can perform my best in both areas,” said Pollon.
A Westlake student and restaurant server at the Pan Kitchen, Michelle Galvin, seems to have differing opinions.
“Having a job affects my studying time, and it limits it way more than before because I have shifts during the week… but it has also taught me to put more effort into school,” said Galvin.
Apart from the potential pressure in school, social life, and the expectations society may have of teenagers in the workforce, there are many students who find it important for their individuality. Working allows for freedom and can be a newfound responsibility that teenagers take and run with.
Kamden Grof, a CHS student and restaurant busser of Davenport’s, speaks on his standpoint.
“I don’t have to rely as much on my parents to support myself, like, outside of living. I get to have fun and do my own thing without my parents’ help,” said Grof.
Leo Cavallaro has a similar experience.
“I feel like I have my own life now, outside of school. Like I’m my own person. I just go to work. I make my own money. I don’t ask my parents for money. I do whatever I want now,” said Cavallaro.
Outside of the current independence that these students have discovered is even greater than the minimum wage paycheck. It’s just the beginning. The foundation of good work habits and a strong work ethic. It’s the building blocks of this generation’s future.
Danilo Petrovic, CHS student and restaurant busser of Davenport’s, is the first to touch on this belief.
“It’s definitely good to have that responsibility and work ethic starting early. Because just building those habits will build your future up. You know, like having your own money, having your own income. It’s something that really keeps you up,” said Petrovic.
Working as a high school student may be accompanied by obstacles that are difficult to overcome. But, in all honesty, I believe it is worth the trouble. Not all jobs are demanding. A job can be as easy as working one to two days a week. It can simply be something to fill the empty spaces of your time. There’s a place for all of us out there. If you’re feeling up for it, go fill out some applications. Because I can promise you this: the feeling of that first paycheck in your hands, your manager finally trusting you enough to close, or the slight, warm smiles the customers give off, reassuring you that you’ve done your job right, it’s all worth it. Ultimately, you’re one step closer to making your mark on the world. One experience at a time. Why not start now?
