Teens need to work (Editorial)
According to the Huffington Post, 24.4% of American teens seeking jobs are unemployed. With the instability of the economy, it’s hard for younger people to get work. This is distressing, as it is important for teens to have worked before getting into college, or having a full-time job.
Working a part-time job while in school may be hard for many students to juggle. For many, there isn’t time between homework, friends and family, and extracurriculars. But in the long run, it pays off to have worked during high school.
The main motive for high schoolers to get jobs is money. Most will use it for things they don’t exactly need, but just as many are saving up for important things such as cars or college. Learning how to budget and having that responsibility is a needed ability, and it’s nice as well to have a little extra cash.
Working develops many necessary skills for later in life. Having a real job can teach someone to have better work ethic, integrity, and responsibility . This is crucial, as it help teenagers have a better transition into life after high school.
It’s also important for those who are old enough to get jobs to start building a resume as soon as they can. Having credibility and references is essential in further pursuits of other jobs. Getting higher level work is nearly impossible without prior experience.
While it may be difficult to get or handle employment while in high school, it is definitely worth it. Beginning to work while young builds important skills and would help a student out later in life.
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SarahBeth Davis is a sophomore, and is new to CHS due to the War College. She mainly writes in Perspectives.
Rachel Day • Oct 29, 2014 at 7:57 am
This article does not represent the opposite side of the argument. It’s becoming more and more important that students do well in high school, and having a job on the side would shift focus from school to work. Working in high school may be positive for some people, but for others it would take away from school work.
Janie Haseman • Jan 21, 2014 at 11:34 pm
I think that this article makes a great point–having a job is definitely a fantastic thing to do as a teenager, and promotes work ethic as well as increased knowledge of that “real world” our parents are always talking about. However, I don’t believe it should be a requirement for all students by any means. Different students have different needs, wants, and interests, and for some, playing a sport or taking harder classes might be more beneficial than getting a job. I believe students should be involved in something outside the classroom, but a job–while both practical and beneficial–may not always be the right choice.
Miranda Clash • Jan 14, 2014 at 8:03 pm
I completely disagree that all high school teenagers need to have jobs. Although there are clear benefits (such as earning money, developing a resume, and getting work experience), I think there is merit to focusing more on schoolwork. As a student with distinguished honors, I care very much about my grades and push myself to do the best I can in all of my academic pursuits. I would go as far to say that doing well in school is my job. Although I’m not getting paid in money, it is my duty to learn as much as I can while I still have the opportunity. Quite frankly, I would not be able to get the most out of my high school education if I had to work. After all, they don’t call it your “high school career” for no reason.