High school students already face the challenge of balancing their academics, extracurricular activities, and their social life, but throwing a part time job into this mix is essential for many students in the Maryvale community. From babysitting to scooping ice cream to working in retail, the students of Maryvale are learning better time management skills as well as financial responsibility. Gaining these skills at a young age will guide them in the right direction as they near the end of their high school career and head into college.
Some high school students get a job to save up for a car or college and others use it to build up their resume and gain skills essential for their future. Luci Zannino, a Maryvale senior, spends her weekends at her local ice cream shop. She stated that through having this part time job, she has begun to develop “communication skills, time management, and problem-solving abilities”. She has also been able to gain a better understanding of “professionalism, teamwork, and how to handle customer service situations”. With these skills under her belt, she will be more flued in financial management and leadership skills as she continues her education at the University of Maryland College Park.
However, having an extra task on top of the demands high school brings comes with sacrifices. Often Luci can be up later than others studying after she gets off of work, missing out on social events, and feeling tired the next day at school. Luci, however, has found a way to balance her work life and her academic life as she states that “there are times when school assignments pile up, but I’ve learned to ask for help from teachers or co-workers to stay on top of things.” With having a job, students need to be able to recognize how much work they can handle and know to carve out time in the day to focus on their own health.
Ultimately having a job in high school comes with many positives as it benefits one’s future completely with the leadership skills obtained. Our Maryvale senior Luci said her best advice for those seeking a job in high school is “It’s all about finding the right balance”. While balancing is a hard skill to obtain, once it is learned it will benefit them for a lifetime.
