The term summer break can have a number of meanings. For some, it means getting ahead in school. Others see it as a way to avoid school, but for myself and many other students summer can be an opportunity to pocket a little spending money.
A good number of students at the high school have part-time jobs, which can be more valuable than they might think. Obviously, if you are looking into being a quantum physicist or a pediatric neurosurgeon, then computing change on a cash register or situating the Smuckers jelly bottles so the labels face outward isn’t going to be of much use.
With me working at the local grocery store and my peers at countless other clothing, sporting and communal businesses, there are some aspects of the job that won’t be beneficial, but some are incredibly valuable to learn for the future as a student in high school.
For students in Wilton and really anywhere, learning simple things like experiencing an interaction with customers and co-workers, learning about the importance of punctuality, and just being a factor of the working world is something every high school student is going to experience in their lives.
Many times I must consult with my manager about scheduling and other formalities. When I was first hired I had to sign all of these intimidating grownup documents relating to taxes and finances. I’m not saying that if a student does not get a part-time job in school then he can never get a good job, but it would be excellent to get that experience at this young age to know what it takes to be an employer’s favorite.
Also, it can be educational as well. Being a cashier, I must deal with money and checks, and this goes hand in hand with the personal finance course I took in the second semester of my junior year, and it definitely didn’t hurt to learn outside of the classroom.
When I see my peers working at local businesses, I feel almost compelled to be proud because it is such a great way to be a part of our great community. Coming from the vantage point of a high school student, high schoolers probably view having a job as a hassle or a chore, but that is what the working world feels like for anyone at any age.
At the local grocery store I work at, really only high school students get hired and I know many popular jobs for students around town that are very similar. It’s almost as if it’s another day at school with your friends. I speak from experience when I say receiving that first paycheck is a life-altering event. To know that you worked hard and received a reward for it is one of the best feelings that can come out of a part-time job.
So, if you’re a high school student and you’re reading this column, in the words of a parent with a jobless college graduate living at home, “Get a job!”
Christian is a senior at Wilton High School. He shares this column with four other classmates.