Is money worth your future?
American teenagers have a variety of jobs. From grocery
stores to fast food places, nearly 25% of teens have
summer jobs. For instance, I worked at a grocery store
over the summer but unlike some of my peers, decided to
continue working during the school year. Many teens
choose to stop working during the school year because it
interferes with their studies. I agree that it can be hard, but the key is balancing your schedule
out based on your academic priorities.
Ask yourself, do I
absolutely
need the money I’m earning right now? How much does work
interfere with school? Have my grades slipped since I started this job? Do I need to cut back
on my hours or quit altogether?
The answers to those questions are for you to answer but here are some guidelines:
● If you have homework after work and it keeps you up to the point where you’re not
sleeping enough and falling asleep in class. Think about only working weekends.
● If only you’re constantly tired and can’t seem to find time to relax, think about working
the minimum amount of hours your job will allow.
● If you’re feeling overwhelmed all of the time and as if no one and nothing can help
your situation, think about quitting.
● If you see your grades dropping by
letter grades,
think about quitting. A job you have
during high school is not worth endangering your college career and future.
Your decision is ultimately just that,
your decision.
Decide if your future is worth a little extra
money in your pocket.1
1
Lowrey, Annie. "Summer Jobs for Teenagers: Only 25 Percent of American Teens Have Summer Jobs, the Lowest
Percentage on Record. Why? Are They Lazy?" Web. 5 Feb. 2015.
<
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2011/07/get_a_job_kid.html
>.
Sullivan/Getty, Justin. McDonald's employees wait to take orders during a oneday hiring event at a McDonald's restaurant on
April 19, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Digital image.
Bloomberg
. N.p., 15
Sept. 2014. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
<
http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/20140915/shouldteensworkinhighschoolitdoesntpayofflikeitusedto
>.