Tackling a job while going to school may be the best choice you’ve made, or it could turn out to work against you. Every person’s situation is different, so there isn’t a formula you can plug your life into and determine whether a job is right for you, and what job would be good for you. You have to look at your personal schedule, how much you know your body can handle, and you have to be responsible in your decision making.
I know from personal experience that some kids must have a job. Maybe your parent’s financial situation doesn’t support the lifestyle you are hoping to live, or maybe you are saving up to go to your dream college. Take it from someone that had three jobs their senior year in high school. It might seem beneficial if your schedule allows it, but there is much I would change about putting that much work on myself. A lot of jobs that teens have don’t just affect you for the time that you are working each day. Is your job too strenuous on your body, to the point where you wake up in pain every day? Are you constantly doing work for your boss until one in the morning when you should be studying for the exam you have tomorrow? Does your performance at your job affect other people enough to the point that you are constantly stressing about living up to others expectations and making sure you aren’t letting anyone down? These kinds of jobs could majorly affect your success in the rest of your life.
There are jobs that teens should be doing while in school, and there are some jobs that are better for summer work. Jobs like working at fast food restaurants are perfect for the school year. You go to your job, you fulfill the requirements, and you put on a good face and satisfy the customers while at work. When you go home you can forget about all of it, focus on schoolwork, and get a good night’s rest. You don’t want a job that has your boss calling you at 10 pm when you’ve got 6 subjects of homework, asking you to come up with a report to present at the meeting tomorrow. Leave those jobs for people that are on their feet and that have pushed their bodies to the extreme mentally and physically and know that they really can handle the extra baggage.
The most important part about a job while going to school is to save the money. It seems like the hardest thing to do, when you’re making minimum wage and there is a really cute dress you’ve been waiting to buy. But the more money you save, the more accomplished you will feel in the future when you look back on it. My mom taught me the most useful tip-every time you get paid, split it in half. Put half of it in a savings account and do NOT let yourself touch it, no matter what. The other half is yours to spend-whether it is on new clothes, bills you are paying, or gas for your car. This way, if you are faced with a situation where money is the only deciding factor, you’ve got a good amount already put away to take care of that.
