Being a student is hard. There are lots of things we are responsible for. Students are involved in sports, extracurricular activities, and rigorous courses that take up lots of time in their day. One thing that should be added to their lists of extracurricular activities is having a job.
Maintaining a job can teach you lots of life skills. It teaches you how to manage your time and stick to a schedule. Having a job after school can provide structure in your life. If you find yourself bored and unmotivated, getting an easy after-school job can give you something to do while also making money.
While working at a job, you are required to work with other people which teaches you teamwork, and patience. It also builds on communication skills. These skills are important because once we grow into adults we will have to use these skills to navigate the competitive workforce. When dealing with customers, these skills improve, especially patience.
Another reason to get a job is because teens are an important part of the economy. Fifty-five percent of US teens are employed as of July 2023 (BLS). As we get older, living becomes more expensive and having a job makes you independent and self-sufficient.
This is important because in less than four years many of us are going to college alone, without our parent’s money, so eventually we have to learn how to provide for ourselves.
Whether or not you decide to go to college, you should get a job because it gives you a source of income. At most colleges, there are work-study programs where you can get a part-time job while also attending classes.
When spending your own money, you may be able to buy whatever you want. Some parents don’t like their kids spending money on things they don’t need, so they limit what they can spend their money on. Instead of using your parent’s money, having a job where you work and contribute to your spending can give you the freedom to purchase as you please.
Having a part-time job in an occupation that you are interested in can allow you to see what your life would be like if you worked that job in the future. It can show you the ins and outs of that job and allow you to see if you want to pursue a career in that field. Many jobs are available to teenagers in all fields, allowing them to find their passion and start building their future.
There are many things that students can do in their free time. Having a job is important but students have many alternative extracurricular activities that they might prefer like sports and academic teams. Students might have issues balancing work and school, but having both teaches you time management and makes you more mature. Having a job isn’t for everyone, many people also might have some issues showing up to work on time and a general disinterest in working.
In a nutshell, having a job isn’t just about making money, it’s about maturing and it symbolizes the end of adolescence. Learning new skills and having a sense of freedom will help us evolve into adults.
