For students who are tired of their parents paying for Starbucks runs, who are saving up for new shoes or who want to get out of the house, there is only one solution: getting a job.
However, getting a job often comes at the cost of school, sports and clubs. The ability to handle that balance differs for everyone, and age is a big factor in being ready.
Having a job requires time, teamwork and the ability to learn new skills. Dedication and commitment are important factors to think about when looking into applying for a job, especially for those still in school with not much free time on their hands.
“The age depends on the level of responsibility of the student that shows that they can manage the duties of school and the time it takes for working that job,” English teacher Victoria Babington said. Babington’s eldest daughter applied for a job early in hopes of buying a car.
The struggles of balance
Although thinking ahead sparks excitement, the reality of having a job can cause stress because it is such a large obligation. By sophomore to junior year, students can see a shift in workload and homework. This can be an issue especially for those who chose to take more difficult classes, like AP or Honors, or have to be flexible with online or Dual Enrollment courses.
“The most [difficult] part of my job is that there’s not much time to do homework and sports,” sophomore Nicole Cui said. “Although I only work once a week, it is a very long shift so I don’t have much time before or after to finish schoolwork.”
Cui works at a local restaurant called Kung Fu Dumpling, where she serves as a waitress. She has been able to save and make money since the beginning of summer, after getting the job from a family friend.
Being involved in extracurriculars in addition to a job can be demanding and the idea of being swamped with homework after a long day may not impress many.
“I definitely have days where I just get super overwhelmed, and I get home at 10—sometimes 10:30, and then I have to do homework,” senior Grace Mas said. “And that’s a little stressful, but if you make time to do it before you go to work, it’s a lot better,” senior Grace Mas said.
Mas has been working at a local Panera for a little over a year. She joined the team in the Fall—their busy season—and got trained for a few months in each position, learning the skills it took to become a productive employee.
“When you’re 16, you’re just starting to drive, and then you also start work, and then it feels like a lot of freedom when you have money and you can drive,” said Mas. “It’s a really good age to get used to all that.”
Life skills
Having a job does not only teach students balance, but also lifelong skills that are used all throughout their careers.
“[My job] was the best place to learn how to better myself socially because I had to talk to rude customers,” Mas said. “But also, you’re able to make friends with people you never really meet outside of a job like Panera.”
Having people to talk to outside of school is important, and having a job is a great way to meet new people.
Junior Fiorenza Dellepiane Vallejo has been working at a local gymnastics center ever since she moved to Florida from Chile in the summer.
“I have learned patience because I’m with little kids a lot of the time so I have really just learned how to take time and focus my energy on them,” Dellepiane Vallejo
said.
Working with little kids in a chaotic environment can be stressful, but patience is an important skill to learn and can help navigate through other overwhelming situations.
“My job has helped me with communication with people and be[ing] more outgoing in general,” Cui said.
Cui hopes that learning how to communicate at a younger age will help her with future jobs, interviews and meetings.
The right age
Although 16 is young, teens can start working even younger. Career Source has lists of all the jobs you can apply for starting from age 14 up until adulthood. Locally, 14-year-olds can apply to Publix, Culvers and Winn Dixie. At 18, students can work at any place they want, with some drawbacks.
All minors have limitations, though. The Florida Department of Education has information regarding child labor laws. Minors of ages 16-17 can only work below 30 hours a week during school time and can not work in hazardous environments.
“I want to get a job probably towards my senior year, when I’m an adult where I’m not going to have as heavy [of a] workload and [so much] pressure on me because of school,” sophomore Zara Valencia Morales said.
Much can impact the views of having a job by the time students become eligible. For those who are not worried about driving or spending money the second they turn 16, getting a job can be pushed back. However, sometimes the extra support from working is what families need and getting a job younger can be a great way to help out. The right age to handle a job is different for everyone.
