In the big picture of things that actually prepare us for life after graduation, having a job sits right at the top.
While everyone tells us that our “only job” should be school, there is a massive difference between studying for a history test and actually being responsible for a shift at work. If you can handle the balance, working during high school is the ultimate move to get ahead of the game.
Working can be a great thing for your future as it forces you to grow up in ways a classroom just can’t. When you are juggling a job, sports, and a ton of homework, you have to learn time management real fast. You don’t have the luxury of sitting on your phone for four hours when you know you have to be at work by 4:00 PM.
Working builds a sense of “grit.” It proves that you can show up and do what you are supposed to do without a teacher or a parent constantly reminding you. This kind of real-world responsibility is the most valuable thing you can take away from a part-time job. Next on the list are the things that make your daily life better right now, like money and social skills. Let’s be real having your own money is the best feeling. Whether it’s for gas, food, or saving for a car, not having to ask your parents for cash every time you want to go out is a huge step toward being independent. On top of that, you learn how to communicate with people who aren’t just your friends, building the social skills to be able to stay calm when a customer is being difficult and learn how to work as a team to get things done. These are social skills you will use for the rest of your life, no matter what career you pick.
Finally, at the foundation of it all, these are the details that help you out later on. Having a job on your resume at 16 or 17 looks awesome to colleges and future bosses. It shows you are a hard worker who can handle a schedule. Even if you are just folding clothes or washing dishes, you are testing the waters. It helps you figure out if you like a job where you are moving around all day or if you’d rather be in an office. Basically, high school is supposed to get us ready for the real world, and nothing is more “real world” than clocking in and earning your own pay. It is a lot of work, and it can be stressful to manage everything at once, but the confidence you get from proving you can handle a job is totally worth it.
