As the school year comes to an end and summer begins, many teens trade classrooms for paychecks. From lifeguarding at local pools to serving customers at stores and restaurants, students are finding jobs that help them earn money while gaining valuable real world experience. For many teens a summer job is more than just a way to earn money, but to gain skills and prepare for the future.
Every summer local businesses hire more workers to meet increased demands, fast food, pools, local stores and other businesses often look to high school students to fill seasonal positions. These jobs provide teens with opportunities to learn responsibility, improve communication skills, and gain experience working with others. Students looking for summer jobs are often searching for positions that offer flexible schedules and good pay. Some of the most common jobs for teens include lifeguarding, camp counseling, retail work, fast food/restaurants, and babysitting. While each job comes with different responsibilities, many students say the experience teaches important life skills that can’t be learned in classrooms.
One of the biggest benefits of working during the summer is learning to manage responsibilities. Teens must balance work schedules, family activities, sports and time with friends, through these experiences many develop time management skills that will help them with future careers. Not only can it help with time management it can help students explore potential career interests, a teen working at a camp may discover they have a passion for working with kids or teaching.
Brooklyn Curry, a freshman at BHS working at Culvers, their job has helped them grow more confident, “When I first started working, I was nervous talking to the customers, but now it’s much easier.” She also says, “I’ve learned how to communicate better and work better as a team with others.
Some of the most common jobs for teens include lifeguarding, camp counseling, retail work, restaurant/fast food positions and babysitting. These jobs often offer flexible schedules while helping students develop skills that will benefit them later in life. While balancing work and summer activities can be diffcult, many students believe the experience is worth it, “I would definitely recommend getting a summer job, you can earn money, meet new people and prepare for high school,” Christian Cook, a freshman at BHS says.
By focusing on the experiences of local teens, it’s clear that summer jobs provide more than just a paycheck. They offer opportunities to build confidence, gain experience, and learn responsibly and prepare for life after high school.
