Photo by Katherine Grady
By Rogan Schenck
Do you have a job? Are you in high school? Do you do activities outside of school? If you answered yes to all these, then you may be struggling to maintain your grades and participate in extracurriculars all while making money. Well, I’m here to tell you, you’re not alone.
In 2020, around 18% of teenagers aged 16-19 were employees while enrolled at school in the United States, according to the Next Gen Personal Finance website.
“There are a lot of benefits to having a job in high school,” says Kaj Friis-Hecht, a junior at the Willow School. “I feel that having a job while also handling school, extracurricular activities, and a social life can build a lot of character.”
Operating in a workplace as a minor can teach a high school student a lot about life outside of adolescence. But, aside from all the life improvement, the best part about it is having the extra cash.
“I collect little bobblyheads, and I buy new clothes with all the cash I make,” Friis-Hecht continues. “I like to support local businesses.”
But there are challenges, too. Emily Frock, an employee at Company Burger, remembers her high school days when she would have to wake up as early as 7 o’clock on Saturday and Sunday mornings. “I never got to sleep in!”
Another challenge that Friis-Hecht and Frock both agreed was hard to deal with was coming home after a long day of school and work and still having to do homework. They also missed out on activities, such as Saints games, going bowling with friends, or just going for a walk in the park.
Another tangible benefit beside the money and life skills is that high school jobs can impress college admissions officers, especially if they see that you were dedicated to one job for a couple of years. This shows commitment, says CollegeRaptor, an online college planning tool.
If you’re looking for a job, there are a few rules regarding age you need to consider. First of all, you must be over the age of 14, and up until the age of 16, there are many restrictions on how many hours you can work and the type of labor you can do. Once you turn 16, many more opportunities become available.
Another thing to consider not related to the law is that many workplaces such as a restaurant or a grocery store aren’t necessarily going to want to hire someone under the age of 16. However, according to NPR, some great news for teens looking for jobs is that teen unemployment is at a near 70-year low, and wage growth is surging for high schoolers.
That’s good news if you’re looking to jump into the workforce.
