Miriam George

In a community where education is highly valued, a high school student might feel skeptical about taking on their first job. The responsibilities of a job could begin to feel like a heavy burden whilst trying to stay afloat in demanding classes at school. As relatable as this situation might seem, a student must evaluate their essential priorities. Are their hesitations necessary? Is working a job in highschool really that bad of an idea? Considering the advantageous results, one could claim working a job in highschool aids an individual in obtaining useful world skills and accomplishing more in life, thereby instilling values of responsibility, creating an increased level of maturity, and needless to say, bringing in extra money.

From the beginning of high school, it is safe to say several students begin to feel what seems like never-ending stress. Therefore, it is important for a student’s mental health to find a way to take a break from the stress that studying may cause. One effective way of doing so is finding a job that can allow individuals to focus their attention on something besides their studies. Spending time in an efficient manner can also help a student develop greater appreciation for down time, leading to a more organized student who uses every minute towards a significant goal. According to a research paper on why students who work excel by the McDaniel College professors Lauren Dundes and Jeff Marx, “…those who worked 5-10 hours per week achieved the highest average GPA (3.2).” The paper also compares students who work and do not work by informing, “…those who work 1-10 hours/week, earned higher GPAs than nonworkers.” This study highlights the idea that working for an appropriate amount of time may in fact create a sense of determination within a student, building self-esteem and a good work ethic.

Another important aspect of getting a job early on is the fact that it gives students meaningful and engaging experiences at improving their communication skills. A hefty number of students spend a majority of their time prioritizing academics, without leaving any time for other activities or skills. Thus, a lack of exposure to a world outside of school may leave a student lacking imperative communication skills. It may be true that academics carry a great weight; however, lacking useful communication skills may lead to an individual struggling to express themselves in a way that displays confidence or self-assuredness. Nevertheless, a job can most certainly assist with this; interacting with colleagues and bosses allows students to get a feel for the world outside of school and build their character into someone who is more than just one-dimensional. In a claim posted by Northeastern University, the author, Shayna Joubert, states that “communication is the fire that fuels the workplace engine. It is difficult to overstate just how important communication can be to a successful organization.” Adding onto Joubert’s assertion, there would be numerous unsuccessful organizations without employees fostering relationships through the art of communication. Without communication, there would be no way to engage in a “workplace engine” and the actual mission of an organization may fall short without a solid foundation in its employees. Thus, by engaging in a commitment such as a job, a reliable number of students will have improved abilities within the communication field.

Even though the idea of getting a job while still in high school may sound like a lot of work, building a developed and well-rounded personality with experiences elevated beyond the average high school student’s will aid an individual in future endeavors. These individuals are more confident, resilient, and stronger in the sense that they can handle more on their plate than what seemed possible to them previously. One of the most crucial values that a student or young adult can take away from working a job while simultaneously balancing a rigorous academic schedule is to respect everyone they come across. By learning to become a hardworking individual, the perspective of a student may change in the fact that they take no one for granted. 

All in all, a change of setting and morals are a few factors that can play into the development of a significantly brighter and more respectful student. These positive attributes can even help at the high school level—treating peers and teachers with a sense of understanding and maturity. This newly-gained maturity can form the realization that one can either dwell in the sorrows of hard work, or take a difficult situation head-on and handle responsibilities with a diligent attitude. These qualities would thus carry over through one’s life as they transition from being a teenager to a young adult to a working adult, turning countless responsibilities into enjoyable and passionate experiences.