With the summer season
around the corner, many students
are in a frenzy to find summer jobs.
Fortunately, on the North Shore, there
is a surplus of opportunities for high
schoolers. Whether it is lifeguarding,
camp counseling, or even delivering
food, there is something for everyone.
During the school year, it is
a little harder to keep up with a job
because of sports, extracurricular
activities, and time-consuming
school work. With all the free time of
summer though, why not?
Not everyone takes advantage
of these options, though. Some
believe that summer is a time for pure
relaxation with absolutely no worries
in the world.
I completely understand the need
to rest and recover from the tough
school year, but I think that having a
job only leads to positive outcomes.
Not only do you get a small
glimpse of the working world, but
jobs also help you grow as a person
and learn more about yourself.
There are also options available
that aren’t very time consuming. Let’s
take my job for example. I lifeguard
for a small pool club in Northfield and
I get the option to choose my schedule
based on what works for me.
So, if I am out of town or have
a previous commitment, it is not a
problem. I know that all jobs don’t
work like this, but it just shows
that you can still find a job that can
work with your schedule and have a
fantastic, activity-filled summer as
well.
Although having a summer job
doesn’t fully compare to the types of
occupations that many strive for after
their college experience, a job helps
teenagers learn the ins and outs of a
working environment.
I think the biggest advantage in
having your own job over the summer
(and at any point in the year) is being
able to manage your own money
without your parents constantly
reprimanding you about learning how
to be independent.
Although most teenagers will
likely spend a majority of the money
they make on things like food and
clothing, it’s refreshing knowing that
it is no longer necessary to rely on
parents for everything.
I’m not sure how many more
times my parents will put up with,
“can I borrow twenty dollars?” from
both my brother and myself.
I have also heard from some
people that they get bored during
the summer without any activities to
fill up their time. Some people have
sports, some have vacations, but
many are left with nothing to do.
Sure, for the first two weeks
sitting by the pool side with a drink
in hand is a dream come true, the
next month and a half is usually filled
with free time. Jobs are a great option
because you can make money while
using your time productively.