Searcy, Ark., (LP) — Being a teenager and going to school full time is already exhausting. But working up to 20 hours a week on top of homework can get very overwhelming. According to recent data, nearly all young adults (97 percent) have held a job between leaving high school and age 22. Lauren Smith stated, “Working more than 20 hours a week and hitting the books is very tiring.” Most teenagers are paying bills while still in high school full time. Although employment can provide valuable experience for teens. It teaches responsibility, develops organizational and time management skills, and can help youth save money for their college education. Jobs can also help teens from good work habits, gain valuable work experiences, and become financially independent.
According to studies, students who work more than 20 hours a week may have lower grade point averages and are more likely to dropout of school than those who work fewer hours. Students with jobs may experience stress due to pressure to perform well in both work and school settings. Laken Randolph handles two jobs while dealing with high school and college classes. Laken states “Working two jobs and dealing with my college classes takes on a whole lot of stress, but it’s just apart of life.” Laken spends most of her free time working and studying.
As of October 2015, 49 percent of all ages 16-24 were employed in any work, either full- or part-time. Teenagers enrolled in high school had an employment rate of 18 percent, while the rate for those in college, either full- or part-time, was 45 percent. Claire Holden graduated from Searcy in 2017. She struggled with working and keeping a job. Claire states “Working and hitting the books was overwhelming all the time. I was always stressed out and couldn’t focus on my school work as much as I needed to.” Because teens over 16 can work unlimited hours, they have the most responsibility for balancing school and work. Parents of students ages 16 to 18 should make sure their jobs don’t expect them to work late hours and should carefully watch their work schedules. If teenagers are spending too much time at work, parents should help them refocus on their studies and do what is more important. Having a good work ethic at such a young age can benefit you in the future.
