Comments on: Should Kids in High School Work?

By: Daniella`

Daniella` — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:45:29 +0000

I am currently 16 working 30 to 40 hours a week as well as holding an officer position in a club and maintianing B minimum in 6 advanced placement classes. In all honesty I understand the value of working, i’m easily learning everthing doesn’t just come to you, you have to work for it but I would really really appreciate it if I was able to take time off, exaustion started setting in my second month working, now at 7 months of this shedule i’m painfully tired all the time, I am haviing difffuculty maintaining all of this as well as relationships with other people. I understand the benifits but if I could, I would cut down to 20 or less.

By: A

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:59:52 +0000

I worked to pay my way through my last year of high school, and everything in my life steadily declined. Sure, it’s great if a student can actually get 8-10 hours a week, but a) that’s really nothing, financially speaking and b) most jobs aren’t like that. My job fluctuated massively but threatened to fire me when I said I couldn’t work that many. I had no choice due to paying tuition. If it’s a bad economy, even in the future, jobs will not hesitate to do the same, I’m sure (because they know they have you over a barrel). When the hours were slim, however, my coworkers and I fought pathetically over them. The work ethics I learned are that you have to sit down, shut up and take it, and that you need to push others out of the way in order to get ahead. Neither of these are valuable or healthy points of view, but I retain them even today.

Essentially, if the right job can be found, then I think it’s a great idea. If not, I think it has more risks than benefits, and is a poor idea.

By: Wojciech Kulicki

Wojciech Kulicki — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:24:56 +0000

“being age 22 with no experience is quite fishy” – I think you hit the nail on the head there–no matter how qualified a candidate, I think employers would be very shy about hiring someone who has never worked for anyone before.

By: Charles

Charles — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:37:44 +0000

I’m in the 11th grade and many of the students have a job either from family business, or a close connection.

I’m one of the few with no real direct connections. I would like to work, and I already have too much free time. My grades are all A’s and I need the money for college. My grades are useless (I’m not a genius mind you) if I cannot afford college.

And then being age 22 with no experience is quite fishy unless you are going to eventually become a doctor.

By: Tiffani

Tiffani — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:43:35 +0000

I am 21 and have worked since I was 15. Starting from Volunteer work at a hospital (Candy Stripper), then moving to a regualar cashier worker at Blockbuster. Blockbuster being my first paid job, the first few months of having that job I blew my pay checks like crazy. And on things I really didnt need. I just knew I had the money and could get it. The responibilities of a real paying job kicked in and I realized the value of a $. After about 6 months of working at Blockbuster I was able to bring my paychecks to a car dealer ship and buy my first car, with my mother being a co-signer. Then I went threw the faze of “I can go anywhere and do anything now”. Till I realized it cost money to put gas in your car to go places. By the time I turned 19 I was a Shift Manager of Blockbuster and got the responsibilites of handleing customer care more and taking money to the bank for change for the day. Opening the store and closing the store was awesome and showed me by working hard I could get raises and promotions. It was also awesome to learn that after a year you could earn PTO (paid time off). There was nothing better then to take the day off and sit at home doing nothing and getting paid. My last year of High school, my grades had been good enough I was able to only go half the year and graduate early. December of my Senior year I was working two jobs and started taking two college classes at a Junior college since I was done with high school. I worked at Blockbuster and Gamestop although similar jobs in retail, I had different responsibilities. I worked both jobs for a while, and had gotten a promotion at Gamestop. Gamestop was paying me more to be a Shift Manage then Blockbuster was. I stayed at Blockbuster just long enough to save at least 3 car payments in savings for back up, incase I lost my job. ( I live in Mississippi and the gamestop location I worked at was destroyed by hurrican Katrina, so I was saving just incase for hurricans. That way I had roughly 3 months to find another job. ) Then I put in my two weeks notice at Blockbuster and started working more hours at Gamestop. Im still working at Gamestop. I have gotten another promotion and make enough money to pay all my bills monthly. My 2nd promotion was good enough I traded in my used 2003 beetle and I turned around and bought a 2010 malibu. Currently working on my Education degree, looking back at all of this, If I could do it over I would do it the same way. I have learned so much all of it. I have my own apartment, a really nice car, and fixing to have a college degree!

All through high school I was an Honor Roll student. The thirty minute lunch breaks or any other breaks I got at work, I brought my school work with me and did it. I loved seeing the rewards of working hard could do and it strived me to work harder and not give up.

I think anyone can do anything they put there mind too. They just need to put whats more important to them above all other things.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 06:40:37 +0000

I’m glad I bumped into your blog, because I enjoyed reading it!
My freshman year I had “legit” job, as you would say, stocking shelves… I had to work Christmas eve, 13 years old. Didn’t bother me much though. I had about 4 different jobs throughout the years, like waitressing, housekeeping, and being a cashier. My grades remained the same, if not better.
I’m a senior in high school now, and i have 2 jobs that pay me 24$ an hr. This past year my grades have dropped, and have even failed a class, due to lack of motivation. The stress is getting to me, and I’d always put work first, because I enjoy doing it and cause I look forward to the cheque. If I have children, I wouldn’t force them to get a job if they didn’t want one… Even though there are many benefits from it.

By: Genna

Genna — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:13:16 +0000

Helllllllllooo someone help Me!

By: Genna

Genna — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:50:46 +0000

Hey everyone! I am doing a research paper and I need some opinions! Do you think you guys could help me out? Do you think that kids should be able to work at a young age? Or do you agree with the legal requirements for working? If you guys could tell me by tommorow or the following day it would be greatly helpful! thanks for your time!

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:30:43 +0000

People who have responded worked. I didn’t, either in high school or college. 19 years ago, I discovered what others discovered with this recession: a college degree doesn’t land/keep the job. When I graduated college, I couldn’t get a job because I didn’t have work experience. The C students were landing the jobs because they worked while I made the grade. This demoralized me to the point only I babysat. Out of desperation, I drove for public transportation. Now, I tell my oldest if she wants something, save her allowance or work (she does both). I’ve advised her to prepare working through college as we will not be able to pay.

By: Lucy Y.

Lucy Y. — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:00:09 +0000

I really like the idea of working during the summer. A lot of my friends work as lifeguards or at the pool. Great alternative to working during the school year! It’s guaranteed to just be during the summer since those are the months that the pool operates and you learn the work experience WITHOUT having pressure to align your job with school!