You ever wonder what the benefits are for working while in high school? If you could count how many people in your school are working, whether it’s for experience, helping a family member or getting some extra pocket money, I guarantee more than 35% of the people in your school have a part time job. 

My Name is Lexie, I have been working for 4 years now, as a customer service representative and embroiderer. I am junior in high school who has been working since the summer of 8th grade; slowly working my way from the bottom to the top. The reason I was working in the first place was to start getting things of my own, to become more independent and to learn earlier to be ahead of the game. Some argue working is just overall draining and nobody wants to do it, and they are absolutely right. When I first started working, I had shifts every weekday from 8am to 6pm during the summer. I was so tired I would come home and just fall asleep on the couch. I told myself “working is tough”, “How do my parents do this everyday?” I would rather stay in school for the day, come home to 4 hours of free time then probably go hang out with my friends.   Some evening homework and late bed night actually sound good.  Instead of work; were I am constantly being physically or mentally drained for 10 hours and wake up,  still tired; all so I can afford a Starbucks drink that costs as much as 1 hour of my shift. 

So what is working good for? The answer to that is; discipline. Work is also good to make money, work harder and get smarter. No matter what you do, you can’t avoid going to work, even if you’re a millionaire. We as humans thrive for purpose. If you could lay on your bed everyday binge eating staring at a screen, we would all be happy, right? NO! We would be depressed, from feeling unaccomplished, lazy and unconfident in our own body’s. 

But what you can do is find a job that you enjoy.  If you love doing what you do, then it’s not necessarily working right? It’s just getting paid to do something you enjoy. While you’re young and working, you are learning what you do and don’t like early. Working while you are young at a job you do not like gives you the purpose to want to do more or something else. Not only does a job teach you, but you are teaching yourself the value of money and budgeting. 

Give yourself a reason why to work harder in school, to stay out of trouble, working gives you responsibility and accountability. If you can’t stay committed to a job how are you going to stay committed to your favorite sport? 

Early employment primes you for real-world experience. It fosters resilience, cultivates valuable skills, and offers a sneak peek into a professional realm. Working during highschool is not merely about earning an income. It’s an invaluable opportunity to gain practical experience, develop key skills like time management, teamwork, and problem-solving. A chance to explore potential career paths and what to do with your money. Here’s to shaping a future workforce that’s resilient, skilled, and ready for the challenges that lie ahead!