There comes a time in every high schooler’s life when they need a… job. It seems like such a mundane thing, something that no one ever wants, but it’s such a necessity. The main thing that many students find difficult is choosing the right job because of the wide range of jobs that are out there. Another thing that’s difficult for students is finding a job that would accept high schoolers in general. But lucky for you, some of your peers have shared their thoughts and feelings about their jobs to give you some insight and inspiration.
Almost every job involves interacting with customers on an hourly basis. Sometimes these customers can be really friendly, and sometimes they can be a bit hateful. Having a job gives you the opportunity to learn things that you may never have known about people before. Keanna Albright (11) works at Southern Auto Dealers with her family. One of the biggest things she encountered during the job that shocked her was how often people neglected their payments.
“I was surprised how many people did not pay their car payments. Because I would suspect you to pay for your car, but nobody likes to pay for their car. They get repoed and then they get upset because they got repoed,” Albright said.
Where Albright works is a family run business. This can have its benefits because you don’t have to work with random strangers, and you have the support of your family when things are rough. However, there are some cons to working with a family business, Albright shares.
“I like working at the shop, but I hate working with family because it all carries over to my house,” Albright said.
A very common job that everyone looks at for a job is some type of food establishment, either fast food or a restaurant. Brooklynn Cox (11) works at Mimi’s Cafe; she is a hostess and food runner. She gets to talk to the guests quite often because of her work, and this is usually the highlight of her day.
“My favorite part of my job is talking to all the people who come in. A majority of the people who come into my work are on the older side, and they always make good conversation and storytelling,” Cox said.
Although working doesn’t seem beneficial besides earning money, it actually has a lot of life skills you can teach yourself. Working in the food industry can be a great way to build your character and learn some valuable lessons. Cox shares the lessons that she has learned through working.
“Working as a hostess has taught me problem solving and has built my confidence. This is because it’s so interactive and I face new challenges that I have to create solutions for quite often,” Cox said.
These are only two of the many possibilities of work in the local area. Having and finding a job is a difficult task for most, so don’t feel alone. If you haven’t found the job for you yet, look at your personal interests and compare them to possible jobs in the area. Jobs are an amazing thing to have and can create memorable experiences.
