What is it like working while attending high school? For many teenagers in Jennings County, working in high school is not only normal but also an expectation.
Destiny Engelking, a senior at Jennings County High School, works at JayC part-time and said she’s learned time management from balancing school and work.
“Working as a high school student gave me responsibilities and taught me how to juggle and maintain multiple things in life at a time,” she said.
But, Engelking said there are things she struggles with, too.
“There are times where I am overwhelmed by the pressure of keeping up with school and work. It causes stress and often leads me to focus less on school,” Engelking said.
“My advice is to not slack or fall behind. Once you get a job you must dedicate this part of your life to work and still make time for school,” she added. “There will be times you might lose track, but if you don’t put your all into school and work, (working) just isn’t for you yet.”
JadeLynn Luedeman, a senior at Jennings County High School, does not have a job, which she said has some benefits.
“When you’re out of school and you don’t have to worry about going to work and not getting homework done, I think I have excelled as far as I can because I have more time when I get home to get work done and overachieve on what I need to do,” Luedeman said.
However, Luedeman said their is a downside to not having a job while in high school: getting bored and lazy.
Her advice: “I think if you think you can keep up with the school work and not fall behind, good for you. Go get your money,” she said.
Parents have reason to be apprehensive about their students getting a job, considering the stress of an additional 20 hours weekly of responsibility, while tending to other responsibilities and trying to get enough sleep.
It would be beneficial for parents to sit down and discuss the positives and negatives of working with their students. Some good questions to ask:
Do you want to work?
What’s the need?
Is this job going to help you achieve your goals?
What is your current stress level and how well do you cope with that stress?
My advice for students thinking about getting a job is to consider their academic strengths and to talk it over with their parents. It is healthy to push oneself, but just don’t go over the edge.
Gracie Miller is a senior at Jennings County High School.
