It’s happened to everyone, you’re out with mom and dad, and all of a sudden you see something you know you can’t live without! However, no matter how much you complain and beg, your parents just won’t budge. You want money to buy things but, as a high school student should you really have a job? 

A study conducted by the census confirmed that students who participated in part-time employment actually had a higher GPA, a better sense of time management, a stronger work ethic, and a higher understanding of responsibility than those who didn’t. In addition, 83% of colleges agreed that they are more accepting of students who are employed. Not only can high school employment help you now and with future education but also future career choices. Starting now is the perfect way to build up your work background and a list of references. 

Anonymously sharing her testimony of work a fellow student shared why she loved her job, “It taught me how to budget even when I didn’t have ‘fixed payment,’ made me way more appreciative of the things I had and how hard my parents worked for them, increased how much I sleep, and who doesn’t love a good old check?” 

Why part-time jobs come with many benefits for students they also come with many challenges. Both time management and organization will be skills needed to successfully partake in the workforce. They will also be needed in order to keep up grades, a social life, and participate in extracurricular activities. A balance of these is important to the academic and mental health of a student.

Participating in employment as a highschooler is a choice with no wrong answer. It can take away many opportunities and open some as well. There are many things you can learn from a job but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn those things through a different path.